THE  HEIRESS  OF  CRONENSTEIN. 


THE  HEIRESS 
OF  CRONENSTEIN 


BY  THE 

COUNTESS   HAHN-HAHN 


MARY  H.  ALLIES 


/ 


O  amare,  O  ire,  O  sibi  perire, 
O  ad  Deunt  pervenire. 

ST.  AUGUSTINE. 


NEW  YORK,  CINCINNATI,  CHICAGO 

BENZIGER    BROTHERS 

PUBLISHERS   OF   BENZIGER'S   MAGAZINE 
1913 


COPYRIGHT,  1900,  BY  BENZIGER  BROTHERS. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  CASTLE  AND  TOWN 7 

II.  SISTERS  AND  SUITORS 17 

III.  DR.  EABENER 24 

IV.  OSWALD  VON  LAUINGEN 34 

V.  YES  OR  No? 41 

VI.  Two  YEARS  LATER 53 

VII.  BETWEEN  Two  WORLDS 71 

VIII.  A  TRAGEDY 86 

IX.  THUNDER  CLOUDS 105 

X.  THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT'  ISIDORO 116 

XI.  THE  ANGEL  OP  THE  RESURRECTION 129 

XII.  "  DEO  SERVIRE  REGNARE  EST  " 137 

XIII.  DECEPTION 147 

XIV.  THE  CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO 155 

XV.  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE 171 

XVI.  THE  VILLA  PAISIBLE 186 

XVII.  ALL  SOULS'  DAY 192 

XVIII.  FAREWELL 200 

XIX.  "  NOVA  ET  VETERA  " 208 

XX.    "MAGNIFICAT"..  .   218 


THE  HEIKESS  OP  CROMNSTEIN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CASTLE  AND  TOWN. 

THE  districts  watered  by  the  large  and  small  riv- 
ers in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Rhine  are  amongst 
the  pleasantest  in  Germany.  Along  the  banks  of 
the  Moselle,  Lahn,  Neckar,  Murg,  and  Kinzig,  to 
mention  a  few  out  of  many,  the  eye  rests  upon  a 
varied  succession  of  sylvan  and  romantic  pictures  at 
every  turn.  It  is  not  the  stupendous  beauty  of  a. 
lofty  mountain  nor  the  majesty  of  a  lordly  river ;  it 
neither  dazzles  nor  overawes.  It  is  a  beauty  full  of 
sentiment,  hence  eminently  German. 

The  ancient  little  town  of  X.,  numbering  about 
five  thousand  inhabitants,  was  situated  on  one  of 
these  Rhine  rivers.  An  old  ivy-grown  church  of 
Roman  origin  formed  the  centre  of  its  irregular 
streets.  The  vine  flourished  on  the  sunny  hills  with 
their  southwest  aspect,  though  not  to  the  same  ex- 
tent as  on  the  Moselle  and  in  the  Rheingau.  The 
grape  ripened  in  the  narrow  slips  of  valley,  and  the 
lordly  forest  crowned  the  hilltops.  A  few  wood- 
dealers,  whose  trade  had  descended  from  father  to 
son,  had  grown  well-to-do  in  the  course  of  time,  and 

7 


8  CASTLE  AND  TOWN. 

employed  wood-cutters  and  wood-carriers.  Houses 
run  up  by  contract  were  unknown  at  X.,  whilst  there 
were  not  a  few  projecting  gabled  roofs,  black  with 
age,  in  simple  and  serious  contrast  to  smiling  nature 
all  around. 

The  highroad  branching  off  at  the  entrance  of  the 
town  led  up  to  Cronenstein  Castle,  a  modern  resi- 
dence on  an  ancient  site.  A  powerful  arched  entrance 
alone  remained  of  the  old  building,  and  over  it  the 
arms  of  the  Cronensteins  were  conspicuous  :  a  crown 
strongly  cut  in  stone,  and  on  each  side  in  a  niche 
half  hidden  by  ivy,  a  knight  in  armor.  The  site  was 
magnificent,  commanding  as  it  did  the  upward  and 
downward  traffic  on  the  river,  the  highroad,  the 
town,  and  the  opposite  bank.  The  chapel  was  evi- 
dently new,  built  in  ornate  Gothic,  with  very  narrow 
arched  windows  and  the  mysterious  rose  over  the 
portal.  To  the  right  a  cluster  of  old  lime-trees 
sheltered  a  rocky  terrace,  which  presented  a  lively 
scene  in  the  spring  of  185  -.  Four  boys  and  a  girl 
were  playing  at  soap-bubbles.  Their  youthful  spirits 
proved  too  boisterous  for  the  game,  so  they  were  de- 
lighted when  the  girl's  pipe  at  last  produced  a  full 
round  bubble. 

**  That  one  will  soar  up  with  the  birds !  " 

"  Yes,  to  the  angels." 

"No,  to  God!" 

"  O  dear  !  there,  it  has  melted  away." 

"  Neither  you  nor  I  can  reach  God  by  this  road,** 
exclaimed  the  girl,  as  merry  as  her  little  companions. 

"  And  soap-bubbles  are  not  good  enough  for 
heaven,"  said  one  of  the  children. 


CASTLE  AND  TOWN.  9 

"  Why  not,  Rees  ?  "  she  asked. 

44  Because  they  dissolve,"  answered  the  child. 

"  That's  quite  right,  Rees.  Everything  is  beauti- 
ful in  heaven,  because  everything  lasts  forever." 

These  children  were  spending  the  afternoon  with 
Florestine  von  Cronenstein,  as  a  reward  for  good  con- 
duct. They  came  from  St.  Francis'  Mount,  a  Fran- 
ciscan convent  at  the  other  end  of  the  town,  and 
their  little  hearts  had  been  gladdened  by  strawber- 
ries and  soap-bubbles,  Florestine  being  the  gladdest 
of  them  all.  She  was  now  eighteen,  her  father's  only 
child,  and  had  lost  her  mother  when  she  was  ten. 
Frau  von  Cronenstein  had  had  a  sister  whose  mar- 
riage had  been  as  unhappy  as  her  own  had  been  for- 
tunate. After  her  husband's  death  Frau  von  Strahl 
had  been  invited  to  live  at  the  Castle  in  order  that 
she  might  give  her  niece  a  mother's  care.  She  had 
previously  occupied  the  top  of  a  house  in  X.,  belong- 
ing to  Herzog,  the  wood-dealer.  His  children,  in 
visiting  their  grandmother  at  the  same  house,  had 
seen  those  of  the  Frau  Majorin,  as  she  was  called. 
Telesphor  Herzog  was  Franz  von  Strahl's  comrade 
both  at  home  and  at  school,  and  Franz  was  not  sure 
whether  he  liked  Florestine  or  Telesphor  best.  When 
Franz  went  to  live  at  the  Castle,  Telesphor  went  with 
him  to  a  certain  extent.  At  least  he  was  a  daily  guest 
there,  and  Herr  von  Cronenstein  was  fond  of  him. 
****** 

After  seeing  the  children  home,  Florestine  and 
her  father  were  returning  over  the  hill,  for,  as  Flor- 
estine said  to  him,  "  the  world  looks  better  when  you 
look  down  on  it." 


10  CASTLE  AND  TOWN, 

"  There  you  are  right,  Flore.  Mind  you  always 
do  it." 

Florestine  seemed  to  wait  an  explanation  of  these 
words,  but  none  came.  She  followed  her  father  up 
the  hill.  It  was  nearly  sunset  when  they  reached  the 
top.  Rosy  clouds  lit  up  the  evening  sky,  but  the 
twilight  already  hung  over  the  valley,  and  here  and 
there  a  light  appeared  in  the  windows  of  the  town. 
Deep  silence  reigned  over  all  nature.  Not  a  leaf 
moved  on  the  trees,  the  birds  had  long  sought  out  their 
nests,  the  midges,  dancing  so  merrily  in  the  evening 
sunlight,  they  too  had  disappeared.  From  time  to 
time  the  sound  of  a  dog  barking  or  of  a  cow  lowing 
was  heard  in  the  villages  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river. 

Passing  through  a  thicket,  they  were  now  standing 
on  an  open  spot  overlooking  the  Cronenstein  hill. 
The  Castle  and  the  chapel  lay  at  their  feet,  and  the 
few  windows  from  which  lights  shone  gleamed  like 
stars  through  the  sombre  foliage  of  the  trees. 

"  Oh,  really,  our  chapel  is  too  pretty ! "  exclaimed 
Florestine.  "Don't  these  arched  windows,  with 
their  mullioned  rose  lighted  from  within,  look  like  a 
heavenly  constellation?" 

"  The  fact  that  it  is  lighted  warns  us  that  we  are 
late,"  said  Heir  von  Cronenstein.  "  Make  haste 
down." 

The  house  of  Herzog,  the  wood-dealer,  was  sit- 
uated in  the  principal  street  of  X.,  and  a  very 
unpretending  tradesman's  house  it  was,  mainly  con- 
trived for  blocks  of  wood  which  were  stacked  in  the 
large  courtyard.  Old  Herzog  had  lost  his  eldest 


CASTLE  AND  TOWN,  11 

son.  Telesphor,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  a 
general  favorite,  a  handsome,  very  gifted  boy.  The 
four  Duke's  daughters  (Herzogstochter),  as  they 
were  jokingly  called  in  the  town,  were  very  pretty 
girls.  Agatha  was  married  to  the  postmaster,  and 
Apollonia  to  young  Dr.  Hellmut,  who  was  gradually 
falling  into  his  father's  practice  of  the  whole  town. 

Afra  was  engaged  to  one  of  the  college  masters, 
also  a  native  of  X.  The  youngest  daughter,  Frances, 
was  alone  out  of  harmony  with  her  surroundings. 
Her  sisters  were  characterized  by  their  simple  dis- 
positions, love  of  family  life,  hearty  industry,  and 
their  obedient  spirit.  She  did  not  even  wish  to  be 
so  distinguished.  She  coveted  showy  advantages, 
talents,  culture,  and  the  elegancies  of  life. 

When  Telesphor  was  fifteen,  being,  as  he  was, 
intelligent  beyond  his  years,  his  father  thought  it 
high  time  that  he  should  give  up  Latin  and 
Greek  and  devote  himself  to  bookkeeping  and  busi- 
ness, for  it  was  his  cherished  wish  that  Telesphor 
should  succeed  him  in  the  wood-dealing.  Great, 
therefore,  was  his  surprise  to  hear  that  Telesphor 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  study  for  the  priesthood. 
"  A  general  disturbance  of  the  heavenly  bodies,"  as 
he  expressed  it,  "  would  have  astonished  him  less." 
The  old  man  fetched  his  Sunday  clothes  on  the  spot 
and  went  straight  up  to  the  Castle  to  unburden  his 
heart. 

"  What  extra  grand  piece  of  news  are  you  bring- 
ing me,  Herzog  ?  Good,  eh  ?  "  was  Herr  von  Cron- 
enstein's  greeting. 

"  My  Teles  wants  to  be  a  priest !     What  do  you 


12  CASTLE  AND  TOWN. 

say  to  that,  sir  ?  "  said  Herzog,  without  further  pre- 
amble. "  You  know  the  boy  as  well  as  I.  Tell  me 
what  I  ought  to  do." 

"  You  are  passive.     It  is  your  son  who  has  to  do." 

"  Yes,  so  it  is  .  .  .  but  my  business,  my  business  ! " 
said  Herzog,  pressing  his  forehead  anxiously.  "  You 
don't  know  how  I  cling  to  my  business  and  my  firm. 
Look,  I  can't  say  exactly  how  old  I  am  ;  it's  in  the 
register  at  the  church — but  I  have  been  a  good  fifty 
years  in  business,  that  I  know  as  well  as  the  Our 
Father.  Am  I  to  see  it  all  fall  to  the  ground,  or 
pass  into  other  hands  ?  My  poor  Fidelis  is  gone  !  If 
he  were  alive,  he  would  have  been  married  and  a 
father  by  now,  and  the  business  would  be  secure. 
Fidelis  Herzog.  Why,  the  name  would  have  de- 
scended from  father  to  son  !  Or  if,  at  least,  one  of 
my  daughters  had  married  a  man  who  would  have 
been  willing  to  go  into  the  business —  But,  no ! 
They  understand  as  much  about  wood-dealing  as  a 
crow  does  about  Sunday.  All  my  hopes  were  cen- 
tred in  Teles,  the  clever,  promising  lad,  and  now  he  is 
crushing  them.  And  yet  I  may  not  be  angry  with 
him  if  he  has  a  real  vocation  to  the  priesthood.  But 
time  must  elapse  before  we  can  be  sure,  and  God 
almighty  may  take  me  before  I  am  able  to  find  a 
partner." 

So  he  poured  out  his  troubles.  Herr  von  Cronen- 
stein  listened  sympathetically,  and  then  replied 
kindly : 

"  I  am  just  about  in  the  same  position  as  you, 
Herzog.  My  name,  too,  will  die  with  me,  as  my 
daughter  will  take  her  future  husband's — and  what 


CASTLE  AND  TOWN.  13 

will  become  of  this  property  on  which  we  have  spent 
ourselves?  I  think  God  allows  it  to  prevent  our 
clinging  to  earthly  things.  He  promised  eternal  life 
to  our  souls,  not  to  our  family  name.  Don't  you 
vex  yourself.  Perhaps  your  son  may  still  take  up 
your  business,  or  your  fourth  son-in-law.  But  you 
must  have  patience  for  a  few  years." 

"  A  few  years  I  "  echoed  Herzog,  quite  startled. 
"  I  have  given  the  boy  a  few  weeks  to  think  about  it." 

"  Teles  will  hardly  change  his  mind  in  four  weeks, 
but  he  might  in  four  years,"  said  Herr  von  Cronen- 
stein,  "  A  boy  does  not  know  the  world  or  what  it 
has  to  offer — a  young  man  looks  at  it  with  very 
different  eyes.  Leave  him  quietly  at  college,  and  if 
at  the  end  of  his  last  term  he  chooses  the  priesthood, 
you  will  have  to  thank  God  for  it." 

"  What  patience  I  shall  require  to  live  through 
those  three  years  !  " 

"  Four  years,"  laughed  Heir  von  Cronenstein, 
correcting  him.  "Four  full  years  and  four  weeks, 
as  we  are  four  weeks  off  the  holidays." 

When  it  was  rumored  that  Teles  thought  of  the 
priesthood  and  therefore  remained  at  his  books,  every 
one  expressed  satisfaction. 

Frances  Herzog  alone  was  cold  on  the  subject  and 
without  enthusiasm.  She  did  not  express  her  feel- 
ings to  her  father  and  mother,  but  gave  her  full  con- 
fidence to  Afra.  Needlework  always  upset  her,  and 
on  this  lovely  summer  afternoon  she  was  condemned 
to  sit  hemming  and  marking  pocket-handkerchiefs 
for  Afra's  trousseau.  She  was  shedding  tears  ovei 
her  sad  fortune,  whilst  Afra  sang  "  Da  gang  i  an's 


14  CASTLE  AND  TOWN. 

Briinneli,"  in  a  loud  voice,  and  the  canary  lustily 
responded  to  her  song.  Suddenly  Frances  sprang 
up,  and  putting  both  hands  to  her  ears,  exclaimed, 
"  It's  intolerable,  Afra ! " 

'•  What  is  ?  "  asked  Afra  in  surprise. 

u  The  noise  which  you  and  your  tiresome  bird  are 
making ! " 

"  Do  you  call  it  a  noise  ?  "  asked  Afra  laughing. 
"  I  and  my  birdie  call  it  singing." 

But  Frances  threw  a  handkerchief  over  the  cage, 
so  that  the  bird  stopped  singing,  and  said  impatiently : 

" 1  can't  understand  why  you  are  so  tremendously 
cheerful,  now  that  you  are  engaged." 

"  I'm  not  so  '  tremendously  cheerful,' "  answered 
Afra.  "I've  always  been  cheerful  and  am  so  now 
that  I  am  engaged,  although  serious  thoughts  come." 

"  A  marriage  of  this  sort,  with  the  prospect  of 
being  tied  to  this  hole  of  a  place,  wouldn't  make  me 
happy,  I  know,"  said  Frances,  turning  away. 

"  What  would  make  you  happy,  then  ? "  asked 
Afra.  "  It  is  something  to  stay  in  your  native  place, 
married  to  the  man  of  your  choice." 

"  Well,  really,  Afra,  I  can't  exactly  say  what  I 
should  like,"  said  Frances  after  a  pause.  "  Every- 
thing here  is  so  monotonous  and  humdrum.  I  know 
every  one  inside  out,  and  that  wearies  me.  If  noth- 
ing wearied  me,  I  might  be  happy.  If  I  could  be- 
come a  great  lady,  now — that  would  please  me." 

"  Say  Frau  Majorin  ?  " 

"  What  are  you  thinking  of,  Afra  ?  Majorin, 
indeed  !  What's  that  ?  No,  it  must  be  a  general  or 
a  count  at  least.  Mightn't  I  marry  a  prince  ?  " 


CASTLE  AND  TOWN.  15 

"  Perhaps — or  an  emperor  ! " 

*4  Oh,  do  you  think  so  ?  "  asked  Frances  eagerly. 

'*  Yes,  in  a  madhouse,"  answered  Afra  coldly. 

"  Then  Teles  is  to  be  a  priest,  and  I  am  expected 
to  rejoice  at  it,"  grumbled  on  Frances.  "  I'm  sure  I 
never  will.  I  might  as  well  rejoice  over  becoming 
a  nun  myself,  and  I  would  rather  be  buried  alive ! 
How  can  I  be  glad  about  poor  Teles  ?  " 

"  If  God  calls  him  to  His  special  service,  it's  a 
high  honor,  and  what  more  do  you  want?  " 

"  Honor  !  "  exclaimed  Frances.  *'  Is  it  very  honor- 
able to  be  curate  or  parish  priest  ?  They  have  neither 
title  nor  fortune.  They  are  always  being  mixed  up 
with  common  people,  and  are  plagued  with  school- 
children. This  doesn't  seem  to  me  at  all  honor- 
able." 

"  But  it  does  to  other  people,  Franz.  Why,  the 
Frau  Majorin  came  to  mother  expressly  to  wish  her 

i°y-" 

"  If  Teles  becomes  a  bishop,  and  is  received  here 
under  triumphal  arches,  with  ringing  of  bells  and 
cannon,  and  th  houses  are  decked  with  garlands,  and 
girls  dressed  iz  white,  then  I  will  rejoice,  for  that 
will  be  real  honor." 

"  Franz,  you  are  a  naughty  worldling !  Just  don't 
let  father  hear  your  silly  talk." 

Frances  cast  a  rapid  glance  at  the  house  to  see  if 
there  was  any  one  on  the  porch,  and  then  said : 

**  Nobody  is  listening.  .  .  .  But  I  really  don't  know 
what  I  shall  be  at  when  you  have  gone,  Afra." 

"  I  shall  be  still  in  the  town,  Franz,  and  it's  not 
large  enough  to  keep  us  apart." 


16  CASTLE  AND  TOWN. 

"  But  you  know  what  father  is !  In  the  morning 
we  go  to  early  Mass,  and  then  we  don't  stir  out  till 
after  supper — and  not  always  then.  And  supposing 
even  that  I  were  to  come  to  you  in  the  evening,  I 
couldn't  really  talk  before  your  husband." 

"  I  can't  imagine,  Franz,  what  it  is  you  always 
have  to  say.  I  believe  it  will  be  good  for  you  not 
to  talk  so  much,  for  it  simply  makes  you  pull  things 
to  pieces,  and  grow  more  discontented." 

"  I  want  a  girl-friend,  Afra,  who  will  understand 
me,  for  really  you  don't  understand  me  at  all." 

"  Indeed  I  do,  then,  and  very  well  too,  for  I'm 
trying  to  set  your  head  straight  on  your  shoulders," 
said  Afra  laughing.  "  If  I  were  to  listen  to  you  and 
all  your  nonsense,  I  should  get  just  as  whimsical  as 
you  are." 

"  I  take  a  great  deal  from  you,  but  I  must  have 
some  outlet  for  my  feelings.  I  daren't  speak  to 
father  or  mother*  Father  has  no  time,  and  mother 
only  gives  me  good  advice,  and  never  takes  my  view 
of  things." 

Afra  laughed. 

**  You  may  draw  the  conclusion  that  your  *  views ' 
are  stuff  and  nonsense,"  she  said.  "  Do  be  reason- 
able, Franz,  and  believe  that  father  and  mother  know 
more  and  better  than  you  and  I." 

But  Frances  kept  her  own  opinion,  and  continued 
to  be  the  element  of  contradiction  in  the  house. 


CHAPTER  II. 

SISTERS   AND   SUITORS. 

WHILST  Telesphor  was  intent  upon  his  new  voca- 
tion Franz  von  Strahl  was  quietly  adopting  art. 
Neither  his  mother  nor  his  uncle  encouraged  him. 
To  them  an  art  career  was  beset  with  dangers.  It 
was  finally  settled  that  Franz  should  matriculate  at 
the  Gymnasium.  "  In  my  free  time,  mother  dear," 
he  said  gently,  "  I  shall  be  moulding  my  little 
figures/1 

Shooting  was  the  boy's  amusement  during  the 
holidays,  and  Florestine  was  made  happy  by  the  gift 
of  a  horse  from  her  father,  who  himself  taught  her  to 
ride. 

When  Franz  and  Telesphor  saw  Florestine  on 
horseback  for  the  first  time,  Franz  exclaimed : 

"  How  nicely  you  and  your  horse  would  look  in  a 
sculptured  group,  Flore  !  Only  it's  too  difficult  for 
me,  especially  the  horse.  But  I  will  draw  you  both 
and  put  a  falcon  in  your  hand.  I'll  make  you  quite 
romantic  and  chivalrous." 

*'  I  don't  care  for  romance  and  chivalry,"  said  Teles- 
phor. "I  know  that  Fraulein  von  Cronenstein  is 
real  enough,  and  I  mean  to  drop  '  Flore '  and  *  Du, ' 
and  begin  to  say  *  you  '  and  *  Fraulein  Florestine.' " 

Florestine  never  rode  through  the  town,  so  that  a 
2  17 


18  SISTERS  AND  SUITORS. 

year  passed  before  Frances  Herzog  happened  to  see 
her  on  horseback.  Afra  had  been  married  quite 
some  time  when  one  afternoon  Frances  came  to  her 
in  a  state  of  great  excitement. 

"  O  Afra !  What  would  I  give  to  be  so  fortunate  ! 
Why,  I  would  give  ten  years  of  my  life  for  it." 

"  For  what,  Franz  ?  " 

"  For  a  horse  !  " 

"It's  a  pity  that  the  postmaster  has  already 
married  Agatha;  he  would  be  the  husband  for 
you,  with  his  horses,"  she  replied  with  innocent 
sarcasm. 

"  Don't  call  his  miserable  nags  horses  !  They  are 
mere  jades,  common  beasts  of  burden.  I  mean  a 
riding-horse,  a  dapple-gray,  for  instance.  O  Afra, 
how  lovely  they  are  !  But  why  should  Florestine  be 
better  off  than  I  ?  What  injustice  there  is  in  the 
world!" 

"  Are  you  going  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  God  ?  "  ex- 
claimed Afra  laughing. 

"What  does  God  trouble  Himself  about  it?" 
asked  Frances  in  return.  "  He  has  the  great  things 
of  the  world  to  look  after ;  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars 
to  keep  in  their  places,  so  what  does  He  care  whether 
Frances  or  Florestine  rides  a  dapple-gray  ?  He  has 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  Men  settle  the  business." 

"  Franz !  "  exclaimed  Afra  in  a  serious  tone,  "  we 
are  always  taught  that  every  hair  of  our  head  is 
counted.  Not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  with- 
out our  heavenly  Father.  You  have  heard  it  from 
your  cradle,  so  how  can  you  talk  in  this  really  im- 
pious way  ?  " 


SISTERS  AND  SUITORS.  19 

"Yes,  I  hear  it  often  enough  .  .  .  only  I  can't 
quite  believe  it,"  answered  Frances. 

"  It's  all  your  fearful  vanity,"  said  Afra.  "  Youi 
silly  thoughts  are  the  birds  of  the  parable  who  are 
always  eating  away  the  good  seed  from  your  heart." 

"  You  are  much  better  than  I,"  said  Frances  with 
tears  in  her  eyes.  "  You  are  happier,  which  accounts 
for  it." 

"  How  you  do  talk,  Franz  !  Certainly  I  am  hap- 
pier than  you.  I  have  always  been  contented,  and 
you  always  discontented.  What  hinders  you  from 
being  happy?  It  is  your  vanity  again.  You  are  al- 
ways thinking  about  what  other  people  have  more 
than  you.  Just  think  a  little  about  the  thousands 
who  have  far  less,  or  about  those  who  have  given  up 
everything  for  the  love  of  God." 

"  That's  quite  different,"  said  Frances,  impatiently. 

"  It  proves  that  riches  are  not  everything." 

Afra's  husband  came  in,  and  Frances  broke  off 
her  conversation  abruptly.  "  I  must  be  going  home," 
she  said  after  a  hasty  greeting. 

"  Why  so  soon  ?  "  asked  her  brother-in-law. 

"  Since  Afra  has  left  home  I  have  an  immense  deal 
to  do,"  she  replied.  "  Sometimes  I  have  to  attend  to 
father's  business  people." 

"  It's  good  practice  for  you,"  he  said  laughing. 

"  Oh,  don't ! "  she  exclaimed  impetuously.  "  I  hate 
the  very  name  of  business,  and  nothing  but  father's 
wish  induces  me  to  bother  myself  with  it." 

"  My  dear  child,  I  heartily  wish  you  may  never  have 
worse  things  to  do  than  attending  to  your  father's 
business." 


20  SISTERS  AND  SUITORS. 

"I  shan't  if  I  can  help  it,"  exclaimed  Frances 
snappishly,  as  she  rose  to  go,  with  a  cold  good-by. 

"  And  I  should  not  wish  to  be  Frances'  liege  lord," 
said  her  brother-in-law,  with  a  hearty  laugh. 

"  You  are  laughing,  but  I  feel  inclined  to  cry," 
said  Afra.  "  How  will  it  end  ?  " 

"  End,  my  dear  ?  Begin,  you  mean.  Holy  matri- 
mony will  settle  it,  and  it  won't  be  the  first  queer  lot 
that  it  has  managed.  A  sensible  husband  or  plenty 
of  trouble  will  do  it." 

"  Oh,  but  Frances  is  quite  by  herself !  It  vron*t  be 
so  easy  to  get  her  to  have  a  sensible  man." 

"  Don't  worry  yourself  about  Franz.  She  will 
come  all  right." 

The  prophecy  was  not  speedily  fulfilled.  Frances 
made  every  one  around  her  anxious  and  unhappy. 
It  was  the  wish  of  old  Herzog's  heart  to  find  a  son- 
in-law  who  would  become  his  partner  and  successor 
in  the  wood  trade.  He  began  to  make  formal  in- 
quiries amongst  his  business  friends  who  had  eligi- 
ble grown-up  sons.  Old  Kiihn  of  Z.  received  a  letter 
on  the  subject  which  he  discussed  with  his  son. 

"  Is  the  girl  good-looking,  father  ?  "  asked  George 
phlegmatically. 

"  Bless  me !  No  one  with  two  eyes  in  his  head 
could  pick  a  hole  in  her.  I  have  not  seen  her  for 
three  years,  and  in  those  days  she  was  a  girl  in 
short  dresses,  with  black  eyes  and  hair,  and  very 
bonny." 

Old  Kiihn  wrote  back  to  say  that  his  son  would 
leave  "  on  business  "  the  following  Saturday,  and 
pass  the  Sunday  at  X. 


8I8TER8  AND  SUITORS.  21 

"  I  wonder  whether  he  says  '  bless  me  ! '  at  every 
other  word,  taking  after  his  father,"  remarked  Fran- 
ces, as  they  sat  at  supper. 

"  You  would  have  been  wiser  to  notice  how  many 
sensible  things  he  said,"  replied  her  father,  control- 
ling himself. 

"  O  father !  as  far  as  I  can  remember  he  was 
dreadfully  common,  and  so  was  all  that  he  said." 

"  I  daresay  you  find  your  father  '  dreadfully  com- 
mon,' "  said  Herzog. 

"  Franz,  you  have  forgotten  the  oil  and  vinegar. 
Fetch  them  quick — how  am  I  to  make  the  salad  ?  " 
said  Frau  Herzog  with  ready  tact.  Frances  rose 
and  stayed  away  in  the  kitchen  till  she  thought  her 
father  would  have  cooled  down.  Being  sharp  she 
said  to  herself,  "  George  Kiihn  is  coming  on  my 
account,  but  it  won't  do  any  good." 

And  so  it  turned  out.  He  came,  and  Frances 
made  herself  as  disagreeable  as  possible,  so  that  there 
could  be  no  question  of  any  offer  on  his  part. 

Herzog  immediately  produced  another  string  to 
his  bow,  and  this  time  more  successfully,  as  it 
seemed.  The  young  man  who  now  came  "  on  busi- 
ness "  to  X.  was  gentlemanly,  agreeable,  good-look- 
ing, clever  at  his  profession,  and  a  thoroughly  honest 
fellow.  He  was  a  constant  visitor  at  the  Herzogs, 
and  thought  Frances  very  pretty  and  nice.  She 
noticed  it,  and  made  herself  pleasant,  for  on  her  part 
she  liked  him. 

"  You  have  my '  God  speed  you/  "  said  old  Herzog ; 
"  but  you  must  have  it  out  yourself  with  my  daugh- 
ter." 


22  SISTERS  AND  SUITORS. 

Herr  Birger  required  no  second  telling.  Frances 
was  pleased  at  his  proposal,  still  she  avoided  giving  a 
definite  answer. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  it,  Franz  ? "  asked 
Agatha.  "  Why  don't  you  say  a  plain  '  yes '  or  *  no ' 
to  Birger  ?  You  see  that  he  is  getting  fonder  of  you 
every  day,  and  you  know  how  the  marriage  would 
please  father  and  mother.  It's  mere  trifling." 

"  I  must  give  myself  a  fair  trial,"  said  Frances, 
with  a  mock  modest  air. 

"  Nonsense !  I  know  what  you  are,  and  you  know 
quite  well  what  you  mean  to  do." 

"I  wonder  whether  Birger  has  been  grumbling 
about  me,"  said  Frances  to  herself.  "  What  bores 
these  men  are !  They  want  me  to  say  a  rapturous 
*  yes  '  on  the  spot.  After  all,  I'm  civil  to  Birger." 

She  played  with  him  for  some  time  longer,  making 
them  all  think  she  could  not  possibly  draw  back. 
But  they  were  wrong.  When  the  proposal  was  made, 
Frances  revealed  her  real  mind.  She  met  Birger's 
earnestness  by  saying  affectedly :  "  So  you  want  to 
settle  down  here  ?  This  obliges  me  to  refuse  you,  as 
I  could  not  possibly  stay  on  at  X." 

He  looked  at  her  in  speechless  astonishment,  and 
then  said  :  "  Would  you  prefer  my  native  place  ?  " 

"  No,  Herr  Birger,"  said  Frances  icily.  "  My 
father  wishes  me  to  marry,  but  for  the  present  1 
wish  to  be  free." 

Birger  left  her  without  a  syllable.  Old  Herzog 
listened  pensively  to  what  the  rejected  suitor  had  to 
tell  him. 

"  God  help  us,  Birger,"  he  said  in  a  dejected,  broken 


SISTERS  AND  SUITORS.  23 

voice,  "  and  as  for  you,  you  deserve  a  better  wife 
than  Frances.  I  feel  her  conduct  even  more  than 
you  do,  for  she  leaves  me  no  hope." 

Frances  solaced  herself  by  saying :  "  If  I  marry 
at  all,  I  shall  marry  to  please  myself  and  not  other 
people." 


CHAPTER  III. 

DOCTOR   RABENER. 

AFRA  was  no  longer  living  at  X.  Her  husband,  a 
first-rate  mathematician,  had  been  called  to  the  Gym- 
nasium of  a  larger  town  after  two  years'  professorship 
at  X.  A  Dr.  Rabener  was  living  in  the  same  house, 
and  when  illness  knocked  at  their  door,  they  found 
him  out  and  became  very  friendly.  He  was  always 
welcome,  even  when  he  came  unprofessionally,  for 
he  was  the  best  man  in  the  world,  and  talked  about 
fraternity  and  benevolence  as  nobody  else  could, 
Afra  thought.  Through  his  frequent  visits  he  came 
to  know  the  Herzogs  as  if  he  had  spent  all  his  life  at 
X.  One  day  he  found  Afra  in  tears,  and  she  told 
him  of  their  family  trouble  about  Frances.  The 
girl  was  not  happy  at  home,  yet  she  refused  very 
good  offers  for  mere  whims,  and  no  one  could  make 
her  see  reason. 

"  Wouldn't  it  be  a  good  thing  to  remove  the  cause 
of  discord  ?  "  asked  Dr.  Rabener. 

"  Of  course,  Doctor,  but  who  is  to  do  it  ? "  ex- 
claimed Afra,  drying  her  tears. 

*'  You  might  very  easily,  Frau  Professorin.  You 
can  have  your  sister  here  for  a  little  while.  Parents 
will  calm  down,  relations  will  forget,  the  young  lady 
herself  will  come  to  a  better  state  of  mind,  and  her 
presence  will  do  you  much  good." 

24 


DOCTOR  RABENER.  26 

The  scheme  found  favor  at  X.,  and  Frances  was 
overjoyed.  The  prospect  of  a  journey,  and  several 
weeks  iu  a  large  town  delighted  her.  What  would 
she  not  see  and  hear  and  do  ?  She  dreamt  of  the 
wonders  that  were  to  take  place. 

"  Dear,  dear  !  "  said  Agatha  impatiently.  "  Don't 
go  and  imagine  any  silly  nonsense.  People  there 
walk  about  on  their  two  legs  just  as  they  do  here." 

"  All  the  same  I  shall  at  last  emerge  from  this 
oyster-shell  of  a  place ! " 

"  Try  to  come  back  in  a  better  frame  of  mind," 
answered  Agatha  sharply. 

"  And  don't  hurt  our  tender  feelings,"  said  gentle 
Apollonia  Hellmut.  "  You  know  how  father  loves 
his  little  town,  and  how  he  is  always  hoping  to  get  a 
partner  and  successor  through  you." 

"  I  will  not  foster  father's  hopes,  for  I  am  sick  and 
weary  of  the  wood  trade,"  answered  Frances  snap- 
pishly. 

"  Stupid  girl ! "  growled  Agatha,  but  Apollonia 
kept  silence,  for  fear  of  angering  her  sister  more. 

Frances  arrived  safely  at  Afra's,  and  was  so  de- 
lighted with  everything  that  she  became  quite 
pleasant.  Her  whole  manner  and  conduct,  her  talk 
and  expression  of  face  changed.  Good  Professor 
Stark  at  once  noticed  the  difference,  and  he  saw  for 
the  first  time,  he  said,  what  a  pretty  girl  Frances 
was. 

She  managed  to  make  herself  uncommonly  happy, 
not  because  she  was  in  a  large  town,  but  because  she 
liked  Dr.  Rabener's  society. 

"  O  Afra,  what  an  interesting  man  that  is  1 "  she 


26  DOCTOR  RABENER. 

said  with  great  enthusiasm.  "  One  could  listen  to 
him  all  day  long.'* 

44  And  he  isn't  a  prince,  or  a  general,  or  even  a 
count,"  laughed  Afra. 

"  Princes  aren't  to  compare  with  him,  Afra !  And 
didn't  you  hear  what  he  was  saying  about  the  so- 
called  upper  classes  having  lived  their  day,  and  be- 
ing worn  out  ?  They're  fast  going  down  the  hill,  and 
the  citizen  is  coming  to  the  fore." 

"  Did  he  say  all  that  ?  "  asked  Afra  in  surprise. 

44  Indeed  he  did.  I  could  not  find  words  for  these 
great  thoughts,  although  I've  had  them  in  my  mind." 

44 1  don't  always  follow  him  on  these  high-flown 
subjects — I  am  too  ignorant.  But  when  he  speaks 
of  charity  I  am  quite  impressed." 

44  But  you  must  call  it  humanity,  not  charity, 
Afra." 

44  Rabener  says  it's  all  the  same ;  then  why  not 
call  it  so?" 

44  Humanity  sounds  more  elegant.  In  any  ordinary 
sermon  you  may  hear  about  charity." 

44  You  are  a  curious  girl,  Franz.  But  I  must  tell 
you  that  I  prefer  the  language  in  which  I  have  been 
born  and  bred,  and  that's  plain  German." 

44  Well,  I  prefer  Dr.  Rabener." 

Dr.  Rabener  at  once  remarked  the  extraordinary 
impression  which  he  made  upon  Frances.  It  was 
exactly  what  he  intended.  He  much  desired  a  good 
match,  and  soon  found  out  that  Afra's  father  was  old 
and  well-to-do.  It  also  seemed  likely  that  he  might 
profitably  set  up  at  X.,  for  old  Dr.  Hellmut  was  not 
immortal,  and  people  were  shy  of  tne  young  man. 


DOCTOR  RABENER.  27 

But  he  had  not  foreseen  how  pretty  Frances  would 
be,  nor  how  quickly  she  would  be  taken  with  him. 
After  a  fortnight  of  frequent  intercourse  his  visits 
suddenly  stopped.  When  the  third  day  passed,  and 
no  Dr.  Rabener  appeared,  Frances  could  not  conceal 
her  agitation.  She  did  not  open  her  mouth,  and 
looked  deadly  pale.  On  the  fourth,  Afra  sent  up. 
stairs  to  him,  asking  him  to  come.  His  manner  was 
constrained.  He  looked  eagerly  round  the  room,  and 
seemed  relieved  to  find  Afra  by  herself.  After  she 
had  innocently  expressed  surprise  at  not  seeing  him 
for  "  three  whole  days,"  he  owned  to  a  secret.  He 
loved  Frances,  he  said,  and  had  kept  away,  not 
knowing  if  his  love  was  returned,  or  if  her  family 
would  approve  of  him  as  a  suitor. 

"Your  sister,  with  her  beauty  and  her  money 
prospects,  may  look  much  higher,"  he  concluded. 
"  I  have  nothing  to  offer  her  but  my  practice." 

"  That  is  a  good  deal,  for  you  are  so  clever  that 
you  are  sure  to  make  your  way,'*  answered  Afra. 

"  Then  you  allow  me  to  hope  ! "  he  exclaimed. 
Afra  was  reflecting  on  her  answer  when  the  door 
opened  and  Frances  walked  in,  flushing  with  pleasure 
when  she  saw  who  was  there.  He  turned  quickly 
towards  her,  and  said  earnestly :  "  Will  you  consent 
to  make  me  happy  and  be  my  wife  ?  " 

"  Yes,*'  said  Frances,  resolutely. 

"  Only  don't  be  too  hasty,"  suggested  Afra  "  Let 
us  wait  to  hear  what  they  say  at  home." 

"  Then  I  shall  be  kept  in  suspense,"  said  Rabener. 

"  No,  you  won't  be,"  answered  Frances.  "  I  am 
quite  determined  to  maintain  my  yes." 


28  DOCTOR  RABbJTER. 

And  so  she  was.  She  was  enraptured  with  her 
engagement,  and  early  as  it  was  in  ihe  day,  talked 
over  all  her  plans  with  Rabener.  Settling  at  Z.,  he 
told  her,  was  an  impossibility,  so  he  would  try  X., 
where  the  Hellmuts  were  in  possession.  Li  case  of 
an  epidemic  they  could  not  possibly  suffice.  Frances 
would  much  have  preferred  the  larger  town,  but  she 
could  not  endure  the  thought  of  being  parted  from 
Rabener.  Furthermore,  the  oyster-shell  would  cer- 
tainly become  a  paradise  with  him  in  it.  These  were 
her  feelings  as  she  returned  home,  to  find  her  father 
had  quite  other  views  for  her. 

Some  Guldmans  were  engaged  in  the  wood-trade 
at  X.  One  of  them  had  made  a  fortune  in  America, 
and  Vincent  Guldman  was  his  heir.  It  was  now 
rumored  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Germany,  and  old 
Herzog  had  set  his  heart  upon  Vincent  marrying  his 
Franz  and  uniting  the  firm  of  Guldman  and  Herzog. 
And  now  Frances'  foolishness  shattered  his  hopes. 
He  could  not  control  his  vexation,  and  lost  no  oppor- 
tunity of  declaring  that  he  would  never  give  his  con- 
sent to  the  Rabener  marriage.  Frances  only  clung 
to  it  the  more. 

Of  course  Vincent  Guldman  was  the  talk  of  the 
place.  Even  Frances  in  her  own  mind  was  excited 
about  the  millionaire's  arrival.  She  sat  at  the  win- 
dow and  saw  his  post-chaise  stop  at  his  mother's  un- 
pretending house,  and  envied  those  who  could  drive 
post-horses.  Vincent  Guldman  had  made  his  plans 
with  great  precision,  and  now  he  carried  them  out 
with  a  rapidity  far  beyond  his  plodding  fellow-towns- 
men. He  went  straight  to  old  Herzog,  and  asked 


DOCTOR  RABENER.  39 

him  if  he  was  minded  to  become  his  partner.  If  not, 
he  said,  he  would  give  up  his  business,  sell  his  pro- 
vision of  wood  at  X.,  and  return  to  New  York. 

Herzog  was  obliged  to  decline  an  offer  which  was 
the  wish  of  his  heart,  for  he  could  not  meet  alone 
the  burden  of  present  work  and  future  provision. 
Vincent  Guldman  did  not  wait  to  hear  more.  He 
rushed  out  of  the  house  without  even  greeting  Frau 
Herzog.  Soon  afterwards  he  left  X.,  not,  however, 
before  bestowing  rich  gifts  upon  the  church  and 
poor,  so  that  his  charity  was  the  talk  of  the  place. 

"  I  am  quite  weary  of  hearing  about  Vincent 
Guldman,"  said  Frances  impatiently.  "  When  will 
it  stop?" 

"  It's  pleasant  to  hear  of  so  much  charity,"  said 
Apollonia  Hellmut. 

"  At  all  events  it  is  very  humane,"  remarked 
Frances  coldly. 

"  What  a  senseless  word  that  humane  is  !  Say  it 
is  Christian,  Franz." 

"  My  dear  Agatha,  is  it  Christian  of  him  to  wish 
school  Sisters  to  be  brought  here  ?  "  asked  Frances, 
in  a  tone  of  contempt. 

"  What  is  it,  then  ?  "  asked  Apollonia  and  Agatha, 
fairly  startled. 

"  It  is  bigotry.  He  wants  to  make  teaching  Sister*. 
of  your  daughters." 

"  Ah,  this  is  what  you  get  in  those  long  letters 
from  Dr.  Rabener ! "  exclaimed  Agatha,  angrily. 

"  What  do  you  know  about  his  letters  ? "  asked 
Frances,  blushing ;  "  and  why  shouldn't  I  write  to 
him?" 


30  DOCTOR  RABENER. 

"I  only  hope  he  doesn't  indoctrinate  you  with 
these  dreadful  views,  for  they  are  not  yours,"  said 
Apollonia. 

"  But  they  are  ! "  answered  Frances,  bridling  up. 
"  I  have  always  had  these  views." 

The  sisters  were  interrupted  in  their  talk  by 
Apollonia's  eldest  daughter  rushing  into  the  room, 
almost  shouting :  "  Come  quickly.  Grandpapa  haa 
been  taken  ill.  He's  going  to  die." 

They  all  hurried  into  the  garden,  and  found  the 
old  doctor  stricken  with  apoplexy.  He  was  at  once 
removed  to  the  house,  and  regained  sufficient  con- 
sciousness to  apprehend  his  state  and  to  receive  all 
the  last  rites,  after  which  he  quietly  expired. 

Probably  Frances  Herzog  was  the  only  person  in 
the  town  who  was  pleased  at  this  death.  Indeed, 
she  felt  inclined  to  credit  Dr.  Rabener  with  a  pro- 
phetic spirit  for  saying  three  months  previously  that 
old  Dr.  Hellmut  was  not  immortal.  This  wonderful 
prediction  was  now  accomplished,  and  it  brought 
the  possibility  of  Rabener's  settling  at  X.  within 
grasp. 

A  little  while  afterwards  people  at  X.  '  eard  to 
their  great  astonishment  that  a  certain  Dr.  Rabener 
was  coming  as  district  doctor  to  X.,  with  the  title  of 
Medizinalrath.  Frances  was  the  first  to  tell  the  news 
triumphantly  to  her  father  and  mother.  The  penni- 
less stranger  was  now  a  Herr  Medizinalrath,  and, 
therefore,  an  honorable  member  of  society.  Afra, 
too,  looked  on  his  suit  with  favor,  and  was  proud  of 
her  future  brother-in-law.  Her  husband  had  certainly 
cautioned  her  in  his  mild  way :  "  Don't  burn  your 


DOCTOR  RABENER.  31 

fingers,  Afra,  with  this  business,"  he  had  said. 
"  Perhaps  you  may  be  sorry  for  carrying  so  many 
coals  to  Franz'  love-kitchen." 

"  Poor  Franz  must  have  some  one  to  help  her." 

"  She  seems  to  me  well  able  to  manage  her  own 
affairs,  and  I  would  rather  you  did  not  meddle  with 
them.  For  if  what  I  have  heard  is  true,  your  father 
would  be  beside  himself." 

"  What  have  you  heard  then  ?  "  asked  Afra. 

"  That  Rabener  is  a  Freemason." 

"  O,  it  can't  be  true,"  she  said.  "  But  it  shall 
soon  be  cleared  up,  for  I  will  ask  him." 

"  No,  let  it  alone.  He  would  not  tell  you  the 
truth,  as  he  knows  your  family  well  enough  to  be 
sure  that  they  would  not  receive  a  Freemason." 

Afra  held  her  tongue  and  kept  her  counsel.  A 
few  days  afterwards  she  came  to  her  husband  with  a 
beaming  face. 

*'-  Now  I  can  give  you  exact  information  about 
Rabener,"  she  said.  "  I  simply  asked  him  to  what 
secret  society  he  belonged.  He  answered,  '  Have 
you  never  heard  of  the  Vincent  Society ?  '  'Of 
course  I  have,'  I  said,  '  but  that  is  no  secret  society. 
It  is  very  well  known,  and  is  authorized  by  the 
Church.'  'There  are  various  societies,'  he  said, 
*  which  have  the  same  end  as  St.  Vincent's  Confer- 
ence r  the  prosperity,  happiness,  and  education  of  the 
greatest  number, — only  they  don't  give  it  out  openly, 
and  for  my  part  I  prefer  the  incognito?  " 

**  And  where  is  the  '  exact  information  '  all  this 
time?"  asked  Professor  Stark. 

"  I  tell  you  that  he  belongs  to  a  society  which 


32  DOCTOR  RABENER. 

works  secretly  to  make  people  happy,"  answered 
Afra,  laying  emphasis  on  all  her  words. 

"  You  are  a  good  creature,  Afra,  but  you  are  not  a 
genius  of  discernment,"  said  Professor  Stark,  laugh- 
ing, as  he  sat  down  at  his  writing-table. 

What  could  Herzog  say  against  the  marriage  when 
Rabener  appeared  as  Herr  Medizinalrath  at  X.,  and 
at  once  proposed  for  Frances  ?  He  gave  his  consent, 
and  tried  to  put  himself  on  a  pleasant  footing  with 
his  future  son-in-law.  Rabener  was  not  congenial  to 
any  of  them,  to  Telesphor  least  of  all.  There  was 
great  antipathy  between  the  two. 

One  day  when  Rabener  was  dining  with  them, 
Telesphor  said  to  him :  "  What  is  that  Chinese 
contortion,  Herr  Medizinalrath,  which  you  make, 
instead  of  the  sign  of  the  cross,  before  your 
meals  ?  " 

"  Do  your  studies  extend  to  Chinese  ? "  asked 
Rabener  in  his  turn.  "  I  should  have  thought  dog 
Latin  was  all  you  required." 

"  If  you  like  to  call  Horace  and  Virgil '  dog  Latin,' 
you  may." 

"  I  quite  respect  Horace  and  Virgil — they  at  least 
had  a  philosophy  of  their  own.  No,  I  was  thinking 
of  your  Fathers." 

"  Aren't  they  your  Fathers  as  well  as  mine  ?  " 

"  Nobody  need  trouble  his  head  about  the  Fathers 
unless  he  is  studying  to  be  a  priest,"  observed 
Frances. 

"  And  if  he  doesn't  trouble  himself,  how  can  he 
be  sure  about  the  '  dog  Latin '  ? "  replied  Teles- 
phor. 


DOCTOR  RABENER. 


33 


At  the  close  of  the  year  Frances  became  the  proud 
wife  of  Herr  Medizinalrath  Rabener.  They  settled 
down  at  Weingarten,  the  little  house  which  had  be- 
Jonged  to  her  grandmother,  and  Rabener  christened 
it  "  our  cottage.'* 
3 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OSWALD  VON  LATJINGEN. 

FLORESTINE  was  riding  back  from  a  property  which 
belonged  to  her  father  on  the  side  of  the  hills  op- 
posite to  Cronenstein.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon 
and  there  was  a  rising  fog.  She  was  suddenly  ac- 
costed by  a  horseman  who  had  lost  his  way  in  the 
intricacies  of  winding  paths  from  field  and  forest. 
He  was  struck  by  the  security  of  her  footing  and  her 
directions,  and  guessed  that  she  was  Fraulein  von 
Cronenstein;  he  of  course  preserved  his  incognito. 
Whilst  Florestine  was  out  riding,  her  father  received 
a  letter  from  Baroness  Frankenhausen,  which  gave 
him  food  for  reflection.  It  ran : 

**  DEAR  JUSTIN  : 

"  Lauingen  is  here,  and  is  extremely  sorry  to  ha<e 
missed  you.  As  you  know  how  very  intimate  we 
are  with  him,  and  as  I  know  how  hospitable  you  are, 
I  comforted  him  by  proposing  that  he  should  go  to 
Cronenstein,  promising  to  announce  him  and  secure 
him  a  favorable  reception,  but  nothing  more.  You 
understand  me,  don't  you  ?  He  entered  very  warmly 
into  my  proposal,  and  will  very  soon  make  his  ap- 
pearance, for  my  poor  husband  is  in  bed  with  a 
heavy  influenza,  and  is  conseauently  only  fit  com- 
pany for  his  wile. 

2k 


OSWALD  VON  LA  UINOEN.  35 

"  Of  course  he  is  coming  on  Plore's  account,"  said 
Frau  von  Strahl,  handing  the  letter  back  to  her 
brother-in-law. 

"  Where  can  she  be  in  this  fog?  You  can't  see 
five  steps  in  front  of  you,"  he  said  anxiously,  going 
up  to  the  window. 

Her  absence,  however,  was  not  the  real  cause  of 
his  anxiety.  He  felt  indefinitely  that  the  proposed 
visit  might  decide  Florestine's  future. 

The  Castle  was  lighted  up  as  Florestine  reached 
it,  and  came  in  to  tell  her  father  how  she  had  done  his 
commissions.  "  Lastly,"  she  said,  "  I  met  a  prince  in 
disguise  who  had  lost  his  way,  and  I  found  it  for  him." 

"  Who  could  it  have  been,  Flore?" 

"  Goodness  only  knows  !  He  wanted  to  go  to  X. 
I  made  him  ride  behind  me  and  brought  him  out 
upon  the  highroad.  He  guessed  directly  that  I  was 
Fraulein  von  Cronenstein." 

"  I  wonder  whether  there  are  any  nasty  people 
about?"  asked  Frau  von  Strahl. 

"  Oh,  really,  Aunt  Augusta !  How  can  you  treat 
my  prince  in  this  ignominious  way !  He  didn't  look 
at  all  rascally." 

She  ran  off  to  dress  for  dinner.  She  had  hardly 
gone  when  a  carriage  drove  into  the  courtyard  and 
Count  von  Lauingen  was  announced.  At  dinner  he 
said  to  Florestine :  "  We  have  seen  each  other  be- 
fore ;  I  have  to  thank  you  for  being  here  at  all." 

"  Oh,  is  it  you  ?  I  did  not  recognize  you  at  first 
by  lamplight,"  answered  Florestine,  cordially.  "I 
am  glad  I  put  you  on  the  right  way,  since  it  has 
brought  you  here." 


36  OSWALD  VON  LAUINGEN. 

"  But,  my  dear  Count,  have  you  got  a  shadow, 
that  you  can  ride  and  drive  at  the  same  time?" 
asked  Frau  von  Strahl. 

"  I  can't  pretend  to  be  so  interesting,"  replied  the 
Count,  laughing.  "  I  rode  across  the  hills  to  Wald- 
rast  this  morning,  and  sent  my  carriage  on  here,  J 
myself  losing  my  way  in  the  meantime.  Thanks  to 
Fraulein  von  Cronenstein,  I  found  it  again." 

"And  how  do  you  like  our  dear  Waldrast?" 
asked  Florestine. 

"  I  always  like  places  of  pilgrimage,"  answered 
Lauingen.  "There's  something  so  peaceful  about 
them." 

"  I  am  always  sorry  that  the  stations  of  the  cross 
are  not  erected  on  the  last  stiff  bit,"  said  Herr  von 
Cronenstein. 

"  Well,  papa,  you  might  long  ago  have  put  them 
up." 

"  Let  us  have  them  first  at  St.  Francis'  Mount," 
pleaded  Telesphor. 

"Yes,  indeed  !  "  exclaimed  Florestine,  "  for  charity 
begins  at  home." 

"  And,  Uncle  Justin,  they  must  be  well  painted  — 
not  the  rough  wooden  or  plaster  figures  which  are 
now  in  fashion.  Better  nothing  than  anything  so 


"  You  see  I  not  only  have  petitions,  but  am  even 
told  how  I  am  to  grant  them,"  laughed  Herr  von 
Cronenstein  to  Lauingen. 

After  dinner  Herr  von  Cronenstein  began  to  dis- 
cuss politics  with  the  Count.  Franz  took  a  pencil 
and  sketched  the  first  station  of  the  cross  on  a  torn 


OSWALD  VON  LA  UINOEN.  37 

envelope.  Florestine  poured  out  the  coffee  and,  ad- 
dressing herself  to  Telesphor,  asked  after  Frances 
and  her  husband. 

"  I  hardly  see  her  at  all,"  he  replied.  "  I  am  at 
work  all  day,  and  here  in  the  evening." 

"  And  don't  you  ever  go  to  your  sister's  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sometimes,  though  Franz  does  not  under- 
stand making  a  home.  She  is  stuck-up  and  affected, 
sitting  at  books  beyond  her  to  educate  herself,  as  she 
says.  He  stays  for  hours  with  his  few  patients  to 
make  people  believe  he  has  a  large  practice.  When- 
ever I  do  see  her  we  are  safe  to  quarrel." 

"  O,  but  you  shouldn't !  "  said  Florestine.  "  Just 
think  how  your  patience  will  be  taxed  as  a  priest." 

"  When  I  am  with  the  Rabeners,"  went  on  Teles- 
phor, without  heeding  her  observation,  "  I  am  always 
put  out,  and  in  a  disagreeable,  not  to  say,  hostile, 
state  of  mind." 

"  But,  Telesphor,  how  can  you  talk  so  of  your  sis- 
ter and  her  husband  ?  " 

"  I  can't  help  my  feelings,"  he  exclaimed.  "  And 
then,  instead  of  being  able  to  win  them,  they  want  to 
pervert  me  to  their  views,  which  are  simply  de- 
structive of  order  and  authority." 

"  I'm  dreadfully  sorry  for  poor  Franz.  What  do 
her  parents  think  about  it  ?  " 

"  My  father  says  nothing,  but  grieves  the  more. 
Rabener  humbugs  my  mother,  and  Franz  is  always 
telling  her  how  happy  she  is." 

They  discovered  during  the  evening  that  their 
guest  was  a  musician.  He  played  the  piano  with 
that  full  and  melodious  touch  which  betrays  the 


38  OSWALD  VON  LA  UINGEN. 

master's  hand.  At  its  close,  as  Herr  von  Cronenstein, 
accompanied  the  Count  to  his  room  after  prayers, 
Lauingen  said,  "  What  a  delightful  life  you  live  at 
Cronenstein.  Will  you  allow  me  to  enjoy  it  for  a 
few  days  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  But  I  warn  you  that  it  is  monoto- 
nous in  the  winter.  We  have  scarcely  any  visitors. 
In  the  summer,  on  the  contrary,  we  have  a  good 
many." 

"  That's  a  matter  of  perfect  indifference  to  me.  I 
so  appreciate  feeling  perfectly  at  home." 

Lauingen  stayed  three  days.  Before  leaving  he 
said  to  Herr  von  Cronenstein :  "  I  should  like  to  come 
back — but  I  must  be  honest.  I  want  you  to  give  me 
your  daughter." 

Cronenstein  looked  earnestly  at  the  Count  and 
replied :  "  Before  I  say  yes  or  no,  I  must  ask  you  a 
question,  which  you  must  answer  on  your  honor  as  a 
Christian.  I  am  aware  that  as  a  very  young  man  you 
had  an  unfortunate  passion  for  gambling,  which 
you  carried  very  far  indeed.  How  about  it  now  ?  Is 
it  quite  overcome  ?  " 

"  Absolutely,"  answered  Lauingen.  "  That  miser- 
able time  was  between  my  twentieth  and  twenty- 
fourth  year,  seven  years  ago  now.  I  have  put  time 
between  me  and  it,  and  I  am  quite  cured." 

"I  will  take  your  word  for  it.  What  you  say 
agrees  with  Frankenhausen's  account  of  you,  and  all 
that  I  have  heard.  For  all  that,  Count,  I  must  own  I 
am  not  without  fear  about  giving  you  Florestine ;  my 
only  child,  you  know." 

"It  is  only  natural,"    replied   Lauingen  gently. 


OSWALD  VON  LA  UINGEN.  39 

"  But  do  you  give  me  any  hope  at  all  ?  If  not,  I 
shall  not  come  back." 

"  I  understand  your  feelings,  Count,  and  I  do  not 
forbid  you  to  hope." 

"  O,  that  is  everything  I  "  exclaimed  Lauingen 
heartily. 

"  Not  without  Flore,  for  it  all  depends  on  whether 
or  no  she  likes  you.  I  shall  not  interfere,  but  leave 
it  all  to  her." 

"  If  she  allows  me  to  hope,  it  will  be  all  right.  I 
have  a  second  request  to  make.  Will  you  keep  the 
past,  or  I  should  say  one  period  of  the  past,  strictly 
from  her?" 

"  Certainly,  Count.  You  give  me  your  word  of 
honor  that  it  is  absolutely  past." 

On  taking  his  leave  Lauingen  said  to  Florestine : 
"  Your  father  allows  me  to  come  back  at  Christmas. 
Will  you  have  a  Christmas-box  for  me  ?  " 

**  Of  course  I  will.  ...  If  I  only  knew  what  you 
would  like,"  she  said  naively.  u  Perhaps  between 
now  and  then  I  may  think  of  something  very  nice, 
and  besides,  the  smallest  thing  is  welcome  with  the 
Christmas-tree  and  the  crib." 

"  If  only  you  would  think  of  the  right  thing,"  said 
Lauingen. 

"  Is  there  really  anything  you  want  ?  "  asked  Flore, 
fairly  astonished. 

"Graf  Lauingen  would  hardly  be  mortal  if  he 
didn't  want  something,"  said  Herr  von  Cronenstein 
laughing. 

'*  O,  I  was  only  thinking  of  Christmas  presents," 
she  said  innocently. 


40  OSWALD  VON  LA  U ING  EN. 

Lauingen  went  off  full  of  joyful  anticipation.  A 
fortnight  later  Florestine  received  a  somewhat  mys- 
terious letter  from  her  cousin.  It  contained  at  least 
a  pithy  postscript :  "  I  hear  that  Lauingen  has  come 
back  enchanted  with  Cronenstein  and  its  inmates, 
particularly  the  Cronenstein  ladies,  and  that  he  is 
shortly  going  back.  I  shall  have  a  special  wish  for 
you,  dear  Florette,  to  add  to  my  new  year's  greet- 
ing :  that  when  next  we  meet  you  may  be  Grafin 
Lauingen," 


CHAPTER  V. 

YES   OR   NO? 

CHRISTMAS  had  come,  and  Oswald  von  Lauingen 
was  back  at  Cronenstein.  It  was,  he  thought,  the 
first  time  he  had  really  understood  what  Christmas 
meant,  for  Florestine  drew  him  into  the  atmosphere 
of  her  own  piety  and  joy  and  happiness.  To  him 
she  was  the  incorporation  of  the  Gloria  in  Excelsis. 

Herr  von  Cronenstein  had  given  the  chapel  a  nice 
little  organ  for  Christmas,  and  Florestine  wanted  to 
surprise  him  with  a  grand  performance. 

"  You  must  help  us,"  she  said  to  Lauingen.  "  We 
should  so  like  to  sing  Hasse's  Te  Deum  on  the  last 
day  of  the  year." 

"  That's  bold.     Where  will  you  get  the  strings  ?  " 

"  We  will  do  without.  We  will  pick  out  the  best 
voices,  and  if  you  would  only  direct  our  practising, 
it  would  go  splendidly." 

"  Only  I  have  never  played  the  organ." 

"  You  needn't  now.  You  can  accompany  us  on 
the  piano.  The  organist  will  come  for  the  evening 
itself." 

*'  Well,  I'll  try,  on  condition  that  the  singers  are 
not  too  unmanageable." 

'*  Oh,  we're  not  at  all  unmanageable,"  she  said 
brightly. 

U 


42  YES  OR  NO  f 

"  And  where  are  we  to  sing  ?  In  the  drawing- 
room  your  father  would  hear  every  note." 

"  I  have  a  piano  in  my  room,  which  will  answer 
our  purpose  perfectly  well." 

The  prospect  of  the  practisings  delighted  Lauin- 
gen,  as  they  were  to  take  place  at  Florestine's  piano, 
and  he  would  thus  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
her  room.  When  they  met  for  their  first  practice, 
great,  therefore,  was  his  disappointment  to  find  him- 
self in  a  stately  apartment  furnished  in  blue  damask. 

"  How  do  j'ou  like  our  concert-room  ? "  asked 
Florestine. 

"  It  is  not  your  room,  is  it  ? ''  asked  Lauingen. 

"  Oh,  no,  it's  a  smaller  drawing-room  which  we 
use  occasionally.  I  have  had  my  piano  put  here.  I 
only  hope  the  moving  has  not  damaged  it  any." 

It  was  not  the  piano,  but  the  Count,  who  was 
somewhat  "  out  of  tune."  He  rubbed  his  hands, 
saying : 

"  It's  cold  here.     It  makes  one's  fingers  stiff." 

Enthusiasm  soon  warmed  them,  and  on  New 
Year's  Eve  the  Te  Deum  was  produced  with  great 
success. 

The  next  day  Florestine  and  her  father  and  Lauin- 
gen were  in  the  library,  looking  at  some  copper-plates, 
when  Herr  von  Cronenstein  was  summoned  away. 
Florestine  would  have  continued  her  inspection  of 
the  plates,  but  Lauingen  put  his  hand  over  them,  and 
said  eagerly : 

"  What  will  you  wish  me  for  the  new  year  ?  You 
can  make  me  happy  by  a  single  word  1 " 

"  Can  I  ?  "  she  asked. 


YES  OR  NO  f  43 

"  Yes  ;  how  can  you  doubt  it  ?  You  know  I  love  you, 
Florestine.  Can  you  give  me  any  love  in  return  ?  " 

"Perhaps  I  could — but  ...  I  am  not  grand 
enough  for  your  great  world." 

"  If  that's  your  only  fear " 

"  What  does  my  father  say  ?  " 

"  He  is  on  my  side,  provided  that  you  are.  Are 
you?" 

"  I  must  think  about  it,"  she  said  softly. 

"Why  must  you  think  about  it?  Did  it  never 
strike  you  that  I  cared  for  you  ?  " 

"  Sometimes  it  did." 

"  Or  that  you  might  grow  to  care  for  me  ?  " 

She  blushed  slightly.  "Yes,  that  has  struck  me 
too,"  she  answered. 

"  Florestine,  that  is  all  I  want ! "  exclaimed  Lauin- 
gen,  joyfully. 

But  Lauingen  had  to  be  contented  with  Flores- 
tine's  "  time  for  reflection."  In  three  months,  if  she 
continued  in  the  same  mind,  they  would  become  en- 
gaged. With  this  promise  Lauingen  had  to  leave 
Cronenstein.  If  Florestine  consented,  the  marriage 
was  to  be  in  May. 

That  winter  was  a  serious  time  for  Florestine  :  so 
are  happiness  and  love  to  any  one,  if  they  are  to 
prove  genuine  and  lasting.  It  was  an  anxious  time 
for  Franz  and  Telesphor  as  well  as  for  the  girl.  In 
the  spring  they  were  to  pass  the  final  examination 
of  all.  Telesphor  was  fairly  sure  of  himself  and 
reckoned  on  a  brilliant  success.  Franz  hoped  to  pass 
moderately  well.  Then  they  would  part — one  would 
go  to  the  University,  the  other  to  the  Academy  of 


44  YES  OR  NO  f 

Fine  Arts.  They  worked  most  industriously,  and 
many  evenings  which  would  have  been  formerly 
given  to  music  and  cosy  talks,  had  to  be  sacrificed. 
Herr  von  Cronenstein  and  Frau  von  Strahl  were 
only  too  conscious  of  it,  and  they  foresaw  their  lone- 
liness with  heavy  hearts,  for  Florestine's  father  had 
no  doubt  at  all  about  her  consent.  If  she  had  not 
been  attracted  by  Lauingen,  it  would  not  have  taken 
her  so  long  to  say  no. 

"  It  will  be  '  yes,'  "  he  said,  when  Frau  von  Strahl 
raised  doubts. 

*  *  *  *  *  # 

The  winter  was  a  long  honeymoon  to  Dr.  Rabener 
and  his  wife.  She  adored  her  husband,  and  he  al- 
lowed himself  to  be  adored,  and  began  to  take  steady 
root  in  X.  One  day  the  Mayor's  wife  came  to  Apol- 
lonia  Hellmut — they  had  been  friends  as  girls — and 
said  in  a  tone  of  great  importance,  "  Lonchen,  I  have 
something  to  say  to  you.  We  shan't  be  interrupted, 
shall  we?" 

"  The  children  are  at  school,  and  my  husband  has 
driven  out  to  the  country,  so  you  needn't  fear  an  in- 
terruption, dear  Barbchen,"  answered  Apollonia  in 
her  kind  way. 

"  We  are  old  friends,  Lonchen,  and  so  I  know  that 
you  won't  mind  what  I  am  going  to  say." 

"  No,  of  course  not.     Only  tell  me  what  it  is." 

"  Well,  then,  Lonchen,  my  husband  has  got  very 
intimate  with  the  Medizinalrath.  He  is  such  a  won- 
derfully clever  man — the  Medizinalrath,  I  mean — 
that  my  husband  as  Mayor  thinks  he  ought  to  patron- 
ize him  a  little.  So  we,  or  rather  he,  is  determined 


YES  OR  NO  f  45 

to  make  him  our  family  doctor.  Your  husband  is 
an  old  friend,  but  he  has  such  an  immense  practice 
that  he  won't  miss  one  family,  whilst  coming  to  our 
house  is  a  great  thing  for  Rabener." 

"The  choice  of  a  doctor  is  a  personal  matter," 
said  Apollonia,  a  little  bit  touchily.  "  My  husband 
brought  your  children  through  scarlet  fever  and 
you  through  typhus,  and  Rabener  has  given  you  no 
proof  of  his  skill,  but,  of  course,  if  he  inspires  you 
with  confidence,  there's  nothing  to  be  said." 

"  Only  don't  be  so  hasty,  Lonchen,  dear,"  answered 
the  Mayoress.  "  Your  husband  did  pull  me  and  the 
children  through,  but  he  came  to  us  instead  of  his 
father,  who  was  then  living." 

"  What  does  that  matter  as  long  as  the  children 
got  well  ?  That's  the  point,"  replied  Apollonia. 

"  1  merely  wanted  to  imply  that  Dr.  Hellmut  then 
had  the  benefit  of  his  father's  advice  and  experience," 
said  the  Mayoress,  laying  stress  on  her  words. 

"  You  speak  as  if  you  had  got  Rabener  by  heart, 
Barbchen,"  exclaimed  Apollonia  somewhat  impa- 
tiently, "  and  that  rather  damages  what  you  say.  Do 
as  you  please." 

"  We  can  hardly  help  giving  our  practice  to  your 
brother-in-law,  and  I  thought  you  would  not  grudge 
it  to  him.  Franz  must  have  told  you  how  very  in- 
timate  we  have  become." 

"  Certainly,  Franz  has  told  me  that  you  meet 
twice  a  week  to  hear  Rabener  read.  Still  I  don't  see 
why  the  one  man  should  be  lecturer,  friend,  and 
doctor.  However,  if  yon  have  more  confidence  m 
Rabener,  take  him." 


46  YES  OR  NO  f 

"  Won't  you  join  our  circle,  Lonchen  ?  "  asked  the 
Mayoress.  "  If  you  only  knew  how  interesting  the 
reading  is,  you  wouldn't  lose  a  moment." 

"  What  are  you  reading  ?  " 

"  Shakespeare's  tragedies,  Goethe's  Faust,  natural 
history — it  varies." 

"  I  wonder  that  your  husband  can  care  so  much 
about  it,  Barbchen." 

"  He  doesn't  like  tragedies,  but  natural  science  in- 
terests him  immensely.  He  was  so  pleased  to  dis- 
cover that  the  most  learned  men  make  the  world  not 
6,000  years  old,  as  we  were  taught,  but  perhaps  60,- 
000,  or  much  more." 

"  And  why  was  he  so  pleased?  " 

"  Because  man  is  worthy  of  the  truth,"  said  the 
Mayoress  solemnly. 

"  So  we  were  taught  lies  and  fables  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Lonchen,  and  there's  a  reason  for  it." 

"  A  reason  for  it  ?  My  dear  Barbchen,  do  drop 
this  mysterious  tone.  We  all  know  there  can  be  no 
reason  for  teaching  us  falsehoods." 

"Indeed,  there  is  then.  The  priests  can  teach 
what  they  please,  and  of  course  they  know  nothing 
about  science.  The  Bible  makes  the  world  out  to  be 
6,000  years  old,  so  nothing  else  can  be  taught.  But 
of  course  it's  as  clear  as  daylight  that  all  the  earth's 
physical  revolutions,  the  Pyramids  and  the  Egyptian 
kings,  and  the  petrified  men — in  Mexico,  is  it  not,  or 
somewhere  there? — must  have  required  more  than 
6,000  years—" 

"  My  dear  Barbchen,"  said  Apollonia  compassion- 
ately, "  don't  be  imposed  upon  by  Rabener.  Any 


YES  OR  NO  ?  47 

one  who  looks  down  upon  the  Church  and  Holy 
Scripture  has  not  a  leg  to  stand  upon,  and  he  says 
and  preaches  just  what  eomes  into  his  head.  This  is 
as  clear  as  daylight  to  me,  and  I  entirely  fail  to  see 
why  I  am  to  believe  that  priests  are  more  narrow, 
minded  than  Rabener  and  his  books.  As  to  youi 
proposal  for  my  joining  your  party  in  the  evening, 
I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you,  but  I  can't  leave  my 
children  to  themselves  two  whole  evenings,  and  I 
like  my  husband  to  find  me  at  home  when  he  comes." 

"  You  are  a  good  creature,  Lonchen,  but  you  ought 
to  pay  more  attention  to  intellectual  culture,  espe- 
cially as  you  are  fortunate  enough  to  have  that 
clever  and  highly  intellectual  Medizinalratir  in  your 
neighborhood." 

"  We  were  too  simply  brought  up  to  look  beyond 
our  station.  Franz  always  had  more  ambition." 

"  That's  why  she  got  a  husband  who  has  not  his 
equal  for  distinction  in  X. !  "  exclaimed  the  Mayor- 
ess. 

"  I  doubt  if  your  view  is  general,"  replied  Apollo- 
nia.  "  I  certainly  don't  share  it." 

s<  I  hope  you  won't  mind  the  doctor  business,"  said 
the  Mayoress,  rising  to  go.  "  You  will  understand 
that  we  couldn't  help  ourselves." 

"  O,  of  course  not !  "   laughed  the  doctor's  wife. 

'*  That's  something  off  my  mind,"  said  the  Mayor- 
ess, when  she  had  summoned  her  husband  from  his 
shop  to  her  side.  "  Hellmut  is  dismissed  and  Rab- 
ener is  our  doctor  for  the  future." 

"Well  done,  Barbchen!  God  grant  we  mayn't 
require  him — as  a  doctor,  I  mean,"  answered  the 


48  YES  OR  NO  ? 

Mayor,  absently,  for  he  was  intent  on  his  customers. 
He  had  a  good  grocery  business,  and  his  wife  was  the 
sister  of  the  wealthy  Vincent  Guldman.  It  was  she, 
not  he,  who  ruled  the  house,  and  this  Rabener  had 
discovered. 

So  the  winter  and  the  winter  storms  passed  away. 
The  wood  anemones  were  lifting  up  their  tender  blue 
heads ;  the  stork  flapped  his  wings  over  his  winter 
nest,  the  woodcock  appeared,  and  the  lark  trilled  its 
familiar  yet  ever  new  spring  song.  A  slight  mist 
hung  over  the  hills,  and  a  changing  play  of  colors  on 
the  heights.  The  river  flowed  along  in  its  full  tide, 
and  the  brooks  rippled  merrily. 

One  lovely  morning  Florestine  sought  out  her 
father  with  the  words :  "  Won't  it  be  too  hard  for 
you  to  do  without  Flore?  " 

It  was  what  he  had  been  expecting,  yet  the  cer- 
tainty overwhelmed  him.  Doing  violence  to  himself 
he  said :  "  At  last !  Only  the  day  before  yesterday 
I  had  a  letter  from  Lauingen,  reminding  you  that 
probation  is  nearly  over  ! " 

"  Had  you,  dear  papa  ?  "  she  said  eagerly,  flushing. 
"  Then  he  is  the  same.  Tell  him  that  I  have  quite 
made  up  my  mind  and  that  he  may  come." 

"  God  bless  you,  my  own  Flore  ! "  said  her  father, 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross  on  her  forehead. 

"Is  all  happiness  marked  with  the  cross,  papa?" 
she  asked  with  emotion. 

"  Yes,  all  without  exception,  my  child." 

"  I  have  always  been  so  wonderfully  happy  that  I 
should  like  to  remain  so.  I  can't  imagine  a  troubled 
life,  and  don't  know  how  I  should  bear  it." 


YES  OR  NO  r  49 

"  You  have  been  happy  because  you  are  a  dear, 
loving  child.  But  we  are  not  meant  to  remain  chil- 
dren, or  to  pass  our  time  at  childish  things.  Other 
duties  await  us,  and  we  are  to  find  our  happiness  in 
fulfilling  them." 

Lauingen  lost  no  time  in  coming.  Herr  von  Cron- 
enstein  greeted  him  very  warmly,  Frau  von  Strahl 
with  some  emotion,  and  Florestine  with  shy  pleasure. 

"  But,  dear  Aunt  Augusta,"  wrote  Amelia  Ver- 
den  to  Frau  von  Strahl,  "  how  can  you  possibly  man- 
age all  the  trousseau  in  four  weeks,  and  at  Cronen- 
stein  too  !  It's  a  dreadful  notion  of  my  uncle's,  and 
a  very  unpractical  one.  An  engagement  should  be 
long  enough  to  allow  the  bride's  mother  full  time  to 
see  to  everything  con  amore.  Make  use  of  me  as 
much  as  you  like.  I  will  willingly  do  any  commis- 
sions for  you,  and  do  them  well." 

Frau  von  Strahl  set  Amelia  Verden's  mind  at  rest 
by  telling  her  that  they  were  ordering  the  principal 
items  from  Paris,  and  leaving  the  rest  for  Florestine 
to  get  as  she  liked.  "  Up  to  the  present  time," 
wrote  Frau  von  Strahl,  "  she  has  been  somewhat  in- 
different to  the  fashions,  and  for  the  matter  of  that, 
she  is  so  exceedingly  pretty  that  she  may  wear  what 
she  likes  ;  she  always  looks  nice.  That's  what  Lau- 
ingen says.  He  doesn't  find  a  four  weeks'  engage- 
ment a  *  dreadful  notion ' ;  neither  do  I." 

It  was  the  first  of  May.  Florestine  was  sitting  on 
the  rocky  terrace  under  the  budding  limes.  Lauin- 
gen was  at  his  country  place,  making  preparations 
for  her  reception.  He  was  to  arrive  the  following 
day  with  his  mother  and  the  wedding  guests.  The 
4 


50  YES  OR  NO  f 

marriage  was  to  take  place  on  the  fourth.  Teles- 
phor  and  Franz  were  coming  up  the  road  from  the 
town,  arm  in  arm,  and  Florestine  ran  to  meet  them, 
saying : 

"  Oh,  do  come  and  sit  down  with  me  for  the  last 
time ! " 

"  Yes,  for  the  very  last  time  as  we  are  now,"  said 
Telesphor  with  a  light  in  his  fine  eyes.  "  We  are  all 
of  us  4  giving  our  hands,' — you  to  a  husband,  Franz 
to  art,  and  I  to  theology ;  so  our  paths  will  be  cast 
wide  apart." 

"Outwardly,  but  not  in  reality,"  said  Franz. 
"  We  have  one  and  the  same  end  in  view." 

"  What  would  it  matter  if  we  never  met  again  in 
this  world,  so  long  as  we  do  meet  again  in  Our 
Father's  house  ?  " 

"  O  indeed !  I  can't  agree  to  a  separation  for 
life,"  exclaimed  Florestine.  "  I  must  see  my  old  play- 
mates and  companions  again.  I'm  not  so  heroic  as 
you,  Telesphor,  and  I  believe  that  we  shall  sometimes 
meet  here  where  we  are  all  three  at  home." 

"  That's  probable,  but  we  shall  be  on  quite  a  differ- 
ent footing,"  said  Telesphor.  "  You  will  be  a  fine 
lady,  and  Franz  an  artist.  Shall  I  be  fit  company 
for  you?" 

"  We  will  try  to  be  always  fit  company  for  you? 
said  Franz. 

"  Franz,  what  was  the  painter's  name  who  used  to 
paint  Our  Lady  on  his  knees  ?  "  asked  Florestine. 

"  It  was  the  Dominican,  Fra  Angelico  da  Fiesole." 

"  You  must  become  another  Angelico,  Franz,"  sh<* 
said. 


YES  OR  NO?  51 

44 1  have  no  talent  for  painting — I  see  that  perfectly 
well  already.  Color  is  not  my  line,  unfortunately,  so 
I  shall  have  to  make  my  way  at  hungry  art." 

"  My  father  would  be  very  sorry  to  hear  this, 
Franz." 

"  Yes,  I  know,  Florette,  and  so  I  don't  tell  him. 
Still  the  fact  remains.  I  could  hardly  rest  satisfied 
with  what  was  only  pretty  good." 

"  Nor  I !  "  exclaimed  Telesphor.  "  I  should  like 
to  be  a  great  preacher,  electrifying  thousands  with 
eternal  truths." 

"It  would  require  intense  purity  and  holiness," 
said  Florestine.  "  Pride  would  make  even  this  voca- 
tion dangerous." 

"  Bat  we  are  talking  only  of  our  future  and  not  of 
yours,  Florette,  and  yet  yours  will  surely  be  rich  and 
blessed  as  you  are  yourself,"  said  Franz.  "  You 
may  play  a  great  part  in  the  world  and  patronize 
your  two  old  playmates." 

"  That's  not  at  all  in  my  way,  Franz.  My  future 
will  be  as  my  past,  I  hope,  calm  and  flowing  as  the 
river  here." 

Florestine  cast  a  sorrowful  glance  over  the  land- 
scape as  she  finished  speaking.  The  hills  were 
tinged  with  the  blush  of  spring  in  the  trembling 
rays  of  the  setting  sun,  and  the  river  with  its  shin- 
ing waters  appeared  as  a  silvery  thread  between  the 
fresh  green  of  field  and  valley.  Whence  came  the 
river?  Whither  was  it  going?  It  wound  in  and 
out  amongst  the  hills,  which  seemed  to  shelter  its 
doings  and  to  hide  its  further  course. 

The  chapel  bells  were  ringing  for  the  May  devo 


53  YES  OR  NO? 

tions.  Florestine  leaned  back,  and  thought  to  her- 
self sorrowfully:  "  Oh,  my  happy  Cronenstein  days  ! 
How  sorry  I  am  to  bid  you  farewell." 

They  all  went  in  to  Benediction,  and  Florestine 
prayed  earnestly  that  her  love  might  be  strong  as 
death,  and  bring  her  nearer  to  God. 

Four  weeks  later  Cronenstein  Castle  was  deserted. 
The  two  who  remained  in  solitude  liked  to  sit  in 
Florestine's  favorite  place  under  the  limes,  and 
there  they  talked  of  their  absent  children.  Spring 
was  over,  though  it  was  still  May, 


CHAPTER  VI. 

TWO   YEARS   LATER. 

Two  years  had  gone  by,  and,  as  far  as  X.  was  con- 
cerned, the  changes  they  brought  about  mostly  af- 
fected Dr.  Rabener  and  Telesphor  Herzog.  Rabener 
was  looking  out  for  a  larger  house,  for  whether  it 
was  due  to  the  lady  Mayoress'  patronage  or  to  his 
own  ability,  the  fact  remained  that  he  was  supersed- 
ing Dr.  Hellmut.  Frances  was  triumphant.  The 
town  of  X.  had  to  thank  her  for  this  wonderful  man, 
for  it  was  she  who  had  attracted  him  to  it,  whereas 
he  might  have  made  himself  conspicuous  in  a  larger 
sphere.  She  was  scarcely  pleasanter  than  in  her 
maiden  days,  and  people  forgot  to  notice  her  pretti- 
ness. 

"  You  remind  me  of  the  jester  in  the  pantomime," 
said  Agatha,  who  was  always  trying  to  bring  Frances 
down  from  her  heights  to  the  dead  level  of  X. 

"  What  a  comparison  ! "  said  Frances,  shrugging 
her  shoulders. 

"  A  true  one,  though.  Nobody  pays  any  attention 
to  the  jester's  nonsense,  yet  still  he  goes  on  with  it," 
said  Agatha. 

"  Most  sisterly  sentiments,  certainly,"  remarked 
Frances. 

"  I'm  not  talking  of  myself,  but  of  other  people !  " 
53 


54  TWO  YEARS  LATER. 

"  People  don't  like  me  because  I  treat  the  town 
of  X.  as  it  deserves  to  be  treated,  that  is,  as  a  silly, 
cackling  place,"  answered  Frances  haughtily. 

Then  it  was  rumored  that  Telesphor  Herzog  had 
given  up  the  priesthood.  He  had  written  vaguely 
to  his  father  and  mother,  telling  them  that  he 
had  "  no  vocation  "  and  should  take  up  "  another 
line." 

"  The  boy  was  shamming  all  the  time,"  exclaimed 
the  old  man  angrily.  "  He  didn't  want  to  go  into 
business,  and  he  dragged  my  consent  out  of  me  by 
pretending  that  he  meant  to  be  a  priest." 

"  No,  no,  it  was  no  sham,"  said  Frau  Herzog  with 
the  tears  in  her  eyes.  "  He  quite  meant  it.  What 
can  have  happened  to  him  ?  If  he  would  only  come 
here  at  the  end  of  the  summer,  we  might  find  out." 

"  He's  not  coming  because  he's  got  a  bad  con- 
science," said  the  old  man  sorrowfully. 

Apollonia  shared  her  parent's  grief.  Agatha's 
blood  was  up,  and  she  said :  "  Why,  the  silly  boy 
might  have  stayed  here  and  gone  into  father's  busi- 
ness ! " 

"  Teles'  eyes  are  opened  at  last,"  remarked  Frances. 
"  Last  summer  when  he  was  here  for  the  holidays, 
my  husband  told  him  they  would  be." 

"  Teles  has  never  paid  attention  to  what  your  hus- 
band said,  Franz,"  exclaimed  Agatha  bitterly. 

"  Indeed  he  did  last  year,"  answered  Frances 
proudly. 

When  she  told  her  husband  the  news,  he  broke  out, 
in  a  delighted  tone :  "  I  have  not  felt  so  glad  for  a 
long  time !  Now  the  clever  young  fellow  has  hopes 


TWO  YEARS  LATER.  55 

of  enjoying  his  life  and  becoming  a  useful  member 
of  society !  He's  not  made  for  a  cassock." 

"  But  what  will  he  do  next?  "  asked  Frances. 

"  Never  mind,  Frances.  There'll  be  one  priest  less 
in  the  world." 

Franz  von  Strahl  had  been  living  for  two  years  in 
the  capital,  attending  its  Fine  Art  Academy.  His 
fellow-students  called  him  the  "  aristocrat,"  and  the 
word  applied  to  his  spiritual  nature,  which  was  ever 
dwelling  on  what  is  highest  and  noblest.  Oswald 
and  Florestine  von  Lauingen  spent  two  months 
every  winter  at  the  capital,  and  so  did  Florestine's 
father  and  aunt.  They,  especially  Franz,  lived  over 
again  the  delightful,  never-to-be-forgotten  Cronen- 
stein  days. 

One  day  as  Franz  was  sitting  in  his  room,  buried 
in  thought,  some  one  knocked  at  the  door,  and  Franz, 
without  stirring  a  finger,  uttered  a  careless  "  Come 
in."  But  the  visitor  remained  standing  in  the  open 
door,  looked  at  him  for  a  moment,  and  then  said 
"  Franz  I  " 

The  familiar  epithet  effectually  startled  Franz  out 
of  his  musings,  for  no  one  called  him  by  his  Christian 
name. 

**  You,  Teles  !  What  brings  you  here  ?  "  he  said 
brightly.  **  Oh,  now  we  shall  find  out  everything !  " 

"  Do  you  think  you  will  ?  "  asked  Telesphor. 

The  two  friends  sat  looking  at  each  other,  and 
noting  the  changes  of  two  years.  Again  Franz 
said  :  **  But  speak,  Teles.  Tell  me  what  brings  you 
here  and  what  you  want.  It's  nothing  bad,  is  it  ?  " 

"  On  the  contrary,  it's  something  very  good,  or  at 


56  TWO  YEAR8  LATER. 

any  rate,  something  which  promises  well.  But  it 
will  astonish  you,  just  at  first ;  that  is,  before  you 
know  everything." 

"  Never  mind,  only  speak.'* 

"  I  am  not  going  to  be  a  priest,"  said  Telesphor,  in 
a  short,  cold  tone  of  voice. 

Franz  started.  "  Not  going  to  be  a  priest  ?  and 
why  not  ?  " 

"  It  isn't  my  vocation,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  found 
it  out." 

"  Have  you  really  found  it  out,  Teles  ?  Dispas- 
sionately, without " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  interrupted  Telesphor,  "  and  I've  told 
my  father  and  mother.  They're  a  little  bit  surprised, 
as  you  are,  although  I  think  you  should  understand 
how  it  is." 

"  Perhaps  I  may  when  I  hear  what  has  mored  you 
to  it,"  said  Franz. 

"  You  shall  hear,  only  not  now,  not  to-day.  Tell 
me  about  yourself.  What  are  you  doing  ?  Do  you 
like  your  work  ?  Are  you  getting  on  ?  Will  you  be 
able  to  make  it  answer  ?  " 

Telesphor  asked  these  questions  rapidly  and  dis- 
connectedly, as  if  his  thoughts  were  miles  away. 
Franz  noticed  it.  The  two  friends  were  no  longer  at 
ease.  Franz  was  reserved  and  Telesphor  agitated. 
Telesphor  said  that  he  had  lodgings  already,  and 
meant  to  study  medicine,  adding  : 

"  I  shall  at  least  be  certain  of  making  myself  use- 
ful to  my  fellow-men." 

"  Weren't  you  equally  sure  of  that  in  becoming  a 
priest  ?  "  asked  Franz. 


TWO  YEARS  LATER.  57 

"  No,  because  it  wasn't  my  vocation.  You  can't 
do  people  good  unless  you  are  thoroughly  in  earnest. 
When  a  man's  that,  he  sticks  to  duties,  be  they  hard 
or  easy.  But  let  a  man  be  in  doubt,  then  all  elas- 
ticity leaves  him,  and  he  just  drags  himself  wearily 
aloDg." 

"  That's  quite  true,"  remarked  Franz. 

"  When  I  left  X.  I  was  too  young  and  inexperi- 
enced— too  new  altogether — to  make  up  my  mind  to 
become  a  priest.  In  the  course  of  these  two  years  I 
have  grown  wise  and  prudent." 

"And  are  you  happy  now?  I  mean  at  rest  in 
your  mind  ?  " 

"  At  rest  in  my  mind  ?  No,  Franz,  I'm  not  at  rest, 
but  there's  a  reason  why  I'm  not.  You  shall  know 
all  about  it.  Good-by." 

He  rushed  out,  and  Franz,  as  he  watched  from  the 
window,  saw  him  disappearing  down  the  street. 

Time  went  by.  Telesphor  did  not  come  back,  and 
Franz  thought  he  would  make  inquiries  of  the  Univer- 
sity tutors  whether  Telesphor  had  matriculated,  so 
as  to  trace  him  out. 

One  lovely  summer  evening  Franz  had  gone  out 
for  a  drive  with  his  cousin,  Amelia  Verden,  and  her 
husband.  The  large  park  of  the  Residenz  was  nearly 
deserted. 

"  If  it  weren't  so  delightfully  cool  under  the  beau- 
tiful trees,  the  solitude  would  bore  me  to  extinction," 
said  Amelia. 

"  Here  come  three  individuals  to  break  the  magic 
spell  of  solitude,  and  if  I'm  not  mistaken  little  Lisa 
Rink  is  one  of  them." 


58  TWO  YEARS  LATER. 

"  Lisa  Rink ! "  exclaimed  Amelia  and  Franz  in 
one  breath,  turning  to  Count  Verden. 

"  Yes,  it  is  Lisa,"  said  Amelia.  "  But  look,  Franz. 
Your  old  Ci'onenstein  chum  is  with  her." 

"  Teles — and  Lisa  Rink  !  "  exclaimed  Franz  in- 
credulously. As  the  three  figures  approached,  he 
saw  Telesphor  distinctly,  and  Telesphor  recognized 
them,  too,  by  a  greeting. 

"  Lisa  Rink  seems  to  me  a  dangerous  companion 
for  a  theological  student,"  said  Count  Verden,  laugh- 
ing, to  Franz,  whilst  Amelia  added :  *'  She  is  really  a 
lovely  creature.  Haven't  you  seen  her  before, 
Franz?" 

"  No,"  he  answered,  in  a  dazed  tone. 

"  But  you've  heard  of  her?  " 

"Yes." 

"  You're  much  too  good  for  this  world,"  said 
Amelia.  "Your  seminarist  has  quite  upset  you. 
Now,  you  see  how  frivolous  the  world  is  !  I  propose 
that  you  should  go  with  us  to  the  Vorstadt  Theatre 
some  night  when  Lisa  Rink  is  playing  one  of  her 
great  parts,  supposing,  that  is,  that  we  can  get 
tickets.  That  little  theatre  is  very  pleasant,  for  in 
the  midst  of  summer  nearly  all  the  audience  are 
away,  and  the  manager  has  been  lucky  in  unearth- 
ing Lisa  Rink  just  at  this  moment.  A  little  theatre - 
going  occasionally  is  a  necessity  of  life,  so  you 
mustn't  be  horrified  at  your  friend." 

"  I'm  not  horrified,  only  I'm  surprised." 

"  When  you  see  Lisa  Rink  your  surprise  will  dim- 
inish considerably,  if  it  doesn't  disappear  altogether. 
Your  friend  may  still  become  a  very  good  priest." 


TWO  YEARS  LATE  JR.  59 

"  I  don't  doubt  it — if  he  still  has  the  wish,"  an- 
•wered  Franz. 

"  In  any  case  you  will  be  wiser  to  keep  Lisa  Rink 
well  out  of  the  way,"  said  Count  Verden. 

"  But  he  must  see  Lisa  on  the  stage,"  said  Amelia 
eagerly.  "Young  people  must  amuse  themselves, 
you  old  Cato." 

It  was  very  early  the  next  morning,  and  Franz  was 
just  going  out,  when  Telesphor  burst  unceremoniously 
into  his  room. 

"  You  saw  me  yesterday,"  he  said.  "  I  will  tell  you 
all.  Every  da}^  I've  been  wanting  to  come  to  you,  but 
I  couldn't  find  the  time.  Now,  listen  to  my  story." 

"  Directly,"  answered  Franz  ;  "  but  first  I  must  go 
to  Mass,  for  I've  kept  to  my  Cronenstein  ways  of  be- 
ginning the  day  with  it." 

"  You  can  go  to  Mass  when  I've  finished  talking," 
said  Telesphor  impatiently.  "  Now  I've  come  to 
have  a  good  talk." 

"  It  won't  hurt  you  to  hear  Mass  first,"  said  Franz 
gently,  and  without  more  ado  he  took  Telesphor  by 
the  arm  and  led  him  into  a  neighboring  church. 

"  Don't  you  go  to  daily  Mass  ?  "  he  asked  on  the 
way. 

"  Well — no,  I've  no  time,"  said  Telesphor  with  a 
little  constraint,  "  and  it  isn't  an  obligation." 

"  Do  you  still  believe  all  you  used  to  believe  ?  " 

"  Not  quite — but  the  essentials,  and — well,  perhaps 
I  do  believe  it  all,  too." 

Franz  was  silent,  and  wondered  to  himself 
whether  his  friend's  reason  was  affected.  Telesphor 
knelt  motionless  during  Mass,  covering  his  face  with 


60  TWO  YEARS  LATER. 

his  hands.     Was  it  trouble,  or  prayer,  or  abstraction  ? 
They  returned  in  silence. 

"  Now,  then,  unbosom  yourself,"  said  Franz  ;  "  for 
I  see  well  enough  you've  a  load  on  your  mind." 

"  Oh,  why  did  I  ever  leave  home  ! "  burst  out 
Telesphor.  "  Why  didn't  I  keep  to  my  father's  wood- 
yard  and  carry  on  his  business  as  he  so  much  wished  ! 
I  should  have  been  peaceful  and  contented  now  ! " 

"  You  thought  you  had  a  different  calling,  but  if 
you  were  wrong,  go  home  now.  Your  father  will 
welcome  you." 

"  Hardly,  when  he  finds  that  I  want  to  take  Lisa 
Rink  to  him  as  a  daughter-in-law. " 

"  You  unfortunate  Telesphor !  Have  you  been 
listening  to  a  fair  tempter  ? "  asked  Franz  sorrow- 
fully. 

"  She  may  have  been  an  angel,  and  I  believe  she 
was,  I  believe  it  most  firmly,"  answered  Telesphor 
with  deep  conviction.  "  If  I  didn't  think  so,  if  the 
devil's  scheming  my  ruin,  then  let  him  have  it !  But, 
as  I  say,  I  will  not,  cannot,  believe  it.  Now,  let  me  tell 
you  all  that  has  happened  in  the  two  years  since  our 
days  at  home.  I  came  to  Y.  full  of  zeal  for  my  voca- 
tion and  ardor  for  my  studies.  I  found  one  or  two 
first-rate  professors,  who  combined  the  deepest  science 
with  great  intellect  and  earnest  faith.  No  work 
tired  me,  no  labor  was  hard.  I  saw  only  three  or 
four  young  fellows,  who  were  as  enthusiastic  as  I. 
Early  morning  and  late  evening  found  me  at  my 
books,  and  every  day  at  Mass  I  prayed  for  a  blessing 
on  my  work  and  my  vocation.  I  was  convinced  that 
all  my  University  time  would  run  as  smoothly.  I 


TWO  YEARS  LATER.  61 

was  greatly  mistaken.  My  peace  and  happiness 
did  not  last  much  longer  than  the  first  term.  O 
Franz !  why  doesn't  God  leave  us  in  paradise  ?  I 
had  peace  of  soul,  and  desired  nothing  more,  but  it 
was  not  to  last " 

"It  should  have  been  treated  as  a  grace — not 
looked  upon  as  a  matter  of  course,"  interrupted 
Franz.  "  It  should  have  been  held  at  the  point  of 
the  sword." 

"  Oh,  do  be  quiet !  "  exclaimed  Telesphor.  *'  I 
know  well  enough  all  that  it  is  usual  to  be  told  un- 
der similar  circumstances,  but  it  doesn't  satisfy  me. 

"  I  had  never  troubled  myself  about  the  people  in 
the  house,"  he  continued.  "  One  day  I  heard  a  gruff 
man's  voice,  raised  in  angry  tones,  with  two  crying 
women.  A  man  came  stumping  down  the  stairs.  It 
was  the  landlord,  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  who  was 
always  very  civil  to  me.  I  asked  him  what  he  had 
been  at  upstairs.  Then  he  told  me  that  he  was 
obliged  to  press  the  occupant  of  the  third  story  for 
rent.  She  was  a  widow  with  four  children.  I 
inquired  about  the  woman's  debt.  It  was  very  small, 
for  the  poor  creatures  lived  in  two  rooms.  I  was  not 
a  Croesus,  certainly,  but  I  could  well  afford  the  little 
sum,  and  I  gave  it  to  the  landlord,  charging  him  to 
secrecy.  At  eleven  o'clock  that  night  Frau  Rink 
knocked  at  my  door,  to  thank  me  for  my  help.  I 
found  that  she  was  not  a  Catholic  and  that  she  had  a 
son  who  wished  to  be  a  priest.  I  invented  a  pretext 
for  making  Anthony's  acquaintance.  He  was  a  fine- 
looking  boy,  very  highly  gifted,  but  ground  down  by 
their  poverty.  The  winter  flew  by.  Anthony  came 


62  TWO  TEARS  LATER. 

to  me  every  evening  at  six,  but  one  night  towards 
the  end  of  Lent  he  did  not  appear.  He  was  ill 
in  bed.  I  went  up  to  see  him.  He  was  in  a 
state  of  high  fever  from  a  lung  attack,  he  could  not 
speak,  his  breathing  was  short,  labored,  and  broken 
by  a  cough.  I  wondered  how  I  could  contrive  to  see 
him  constantly  without  bothering  his  mother  and 
sister." 

Telesphor  rose  abruptly,  took  a  turn  up  and  down 
the  room,  and  then  stood  before  Franz. 

"  This  is  how  it  was,"  he  said.     "  Was  I  wrong  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not,"  answered  Franz. 

"  Why  was  evil  to  come  to  me  from  a  good  ac- 
tion?" 

"  Because  the  devil  is  always  busy,  seeking  whom 
be  may  devour." 

"  From  Anthony's  bedside  I  walked  into  the  room 
where  his  sister  Lisi  was  sitting  at  her  millinery. 
It  was  full  of  warm  sunshine  and  lighted  up  by  the 
blue  spring  sky.  Lisi  got  up  as  I  came  in.  The 
sun's  rays  fell  on  her  soft  fair  hair,  surrounding  her 
pretty  head  with  a  golden  halo.  Her  bewitching, 
deep  blue  eyes  had  something  in  them  of  Anthony's 
tender  gratitude,  with  a  peculiar  expressiveness  of 
their  own.  On  going  into  the  room  I  was  thinking 
as  little  of  Lisi  as  I  am  now  thinking  of  the  Grand 
Turk.  The  sick  boy  quite  engrossed  me.  I  was 
captivated  on  the  spot." 

"  It  was  the  striking  contrast  between  life  and 
death  which  affected  you,"  said  Franz  quietly. 

"  No,  it  was  nothing  of  the  sort.  It  was  something 
absorbing  and  irresistible.  It  was  love." 


TWO  SEARS  LATER.  63 

"  Oh,  what  a  fool  you  are  !  "  cried  out  Franz,  with 
a  burst  of  uncontrollable  feeling.  "  How  could  you 
let  your  prize  be  wrenched  from  you  without  a 
struggle?" 

"  Without  a  struggle  ?  "  asked  Telesphor  in  a  low 
tone. 

"  Striking  the  air  is  not  fighting  in  earnest,"  ex- 
claimed Franz. 

"  You  just  live  through  what  I  have  lived  through 
since  that  day, — then  you'll  know  what  fighting 
means,"  said  Telesphor  coldly,  proceeding  with  his 
story. 

"  Anthony's  illness  ran  its  course.  From  inflam- 
mation of  the  lungs  it  turned  to  galloping  consump- 
tion, and,  after  six  weeks'  suffering,  he  was  gone.  He 
knew  that  he  should  die,  and  told  me  so,  but  he  hid 
it  from  his  mother,  who  clung  feverishly  to  the  hope 
of  his  recovery.  On  the  eve  of  Ascension  Day  he 
himself  asked  for  the  last  sacraments,  and  on  the  feast 
itself  he  died.  I  need  not  tell  you  that  I  passed 
hours,  days,  and  nights  at  his  bed,  and  I  may  add 
that  I  should  have  done  as  much  if  there  had  been 
no  lisi.  Sometimes  I  did  not  see  her  for  several 
days.  I  was  too  overcome  with  sorrow  and  anxiety 
about  Anthony  to  give  heed  to  any  other  feeling. 
But  after  his  death  it  seemed  to  revive  with  double 
force." 

"  Ah,  Teles,  why  did  you  lose  through  the  sister 
what  you  had  gained  through  the  brother  ?  "  said 
Franz.  "  Why  didn't  you  avoid  the  girl  after  An- 
thony's death  ?  Why  didn't  you  throw  yourself  with 
redoubled  energy  into  your  studies?  If  you  ex- 


64  TWO  YEARS  LATER. 

amined  yourself  you  must   have   known  that  your 
feelings  were  out  of  harmony  with  your  vocation." 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  thought  my  vocation  required 
me  to  throw  myself  heart  and  soul  into  the  work  of 
gaining  Lisi  and  her  mother  to  the  faith.  Well,  an- 
other term,  the  third,  was  up  in  August.  My  books 
no  longer  attracted  me  in  the  same  way.  I  was  pre- 
occupied, and  found  study  dry  and  even  distasteful. 
I  should  have  welcomed  the  holidays,  if  they  had  not 
meant  a  second  parting  from  Lisi.  I  put  off  my 
journey  to  X.  from  week  to  week.  At  last,  I  had  to 
make  up  my  mind  to  it.  When  I  told  Lisi,  she  said, 
'We  are  losing  our  only  friend!'  It  was  a  dreadful 
visit.  On  the  one  hand,  because  I  saw  plainly  for  the 
first  time  what  misery  it  was  to  be  away  from  her ; 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  because  all  the  memories  of 
the  past  seemed  to  hold  me  in  their  power.  I  went 
to  see  your  uncle.  His  clear  eye  read  the  struggle 
which  was  going  on.  '  You  are  no  longer  what  you 
were  last  year,  Teles,'  he  said  kindly.  Unfortunately, 
my  brother-in-law,  Rabener,  also  discovered  my 
struggle.  I  don't  know  what  uncanny  instinct  told 
him  what  was  going  on  in  me,  and  just  when  I  was 
fighting  hardest,  he  would  add  to  my  perplexity  by 
remarking  how  foolish  it  was  to  turn  away  from  life's 
good  things.  He  once  said  to  me,  '  If  you  must 
have  theology,  follow  Dr.  Martin  Luther's  example. 
Write,  and  preach,  and  teach  to  your  heart's  content, 
but  marry  a  wife  and  enjoy  your  life.'  Sometimes  I 
tkought  to  myself  how  pleased  my  old  father  would 
be  to  be  told  that  I  was  going  into  his  business.  It 
would  have  humbled  me  to  return  to  my  father's 


TWO  YEARS  LATER.  65 

wood-yard  after  my  years  of  study,  and  to  disappoint 
the  wishes  and  hopes  of  my  relations  and  friends. 
The  holidays  were  nearly  over.  The  thought  of  see- 
ing Lisi  again  thrilled  me  with  delight.  Your  uncle 
sent  for  me  suddenly  one  day,  and  said : 

" '  I  am  going  to-morrow  to  Florestine's  at  See- 
heim.  Come  with  me,  Teles.' 

"  I  started  back,  I  was  so  taken  by  surprise. 

" '  Do  come,'  he  said  in  a  still  kinder  tone.  4  It 
will  do  you  good  to  have  an  entire  change  of  scene 
with  your  old  friends.' 

" '  I  must  go  back  to  Y.,'  I  exclaimed. 

"  *  Yes,  but  through  Seeheim,'  he  said.  *  I  must 
ask  you  to  do  this  for  my  sake,  Teles.'  " 

"  And  you  refused  ?  "  exclaimed  Franz  sorrowfully. 
"  You  refused  to  take  the  hand  outstretched  to  help 
you?" 

"Yes,  I  did,"  replied  Telesphor  in  a  low  tone. 
"  There  was  something  in  me  which  refused  to  be 
saved,  and  I  listened  to  it  that  day.  When  your 
uncle  and  mother  were  leaving,  I  could  have  run 
after  the  carriage,  flung  myself  beneath  the  wheels, 
and  begged  to  be  taken.  It  was  too  late  !  " 

"  Indeed  it  wasn't,"  burst  out  Franz.  "  It  is  not 
even  now  too  late !  " 

"  The  die  is  cast ;  there's  no  altering  it,"  interrupted 
Telesphor.  "  I  can't  go  back  to  my  old  home,  and 
couldn't  if  I  desired  it  with  my  whole  soul.  I  can 
as  little  go  back  in  a  spiritual  sense,  or  return  to  a 
former  state  of  mind  in  which  I  did  not  know  my 
true  self.  Well,  I  went  back  to  Y.  I  had  scarcely 
arrived  before  I  bounded  upstairs,  in  a  thrill  of  de- 
5 


66  TWO  YEARS  LATER. 

light  and  excitement  at  the  thought  of  seeing  Lisi. 
A  change  had  taken  place  in  their  circumstances 
during  my  absence,  Frau  Rink  told  me,  in  conse- 
quence of  an  application  she  had  made  to  her  brother- 
in-law. 

"  *  And  I  am  going  to  be  an  actress,'  interrupted 
Lisi,  speaking  and  looking  her  delight.  '  Just  fancy 
uncle  saying  that  I  have  great  talent,  and  could 
make  a  stir,  and  he  knows  what  he's  talking  about. 
He  is  manager  to  the  small  theatre  in  the  capital. 
I  shall  make  my  appearance  there.  Oh,  how  de- 
lightful it  is  !  I  can  scarcely  believe  it.' 

"  *  What  do  you  mean  ?  What  are  you  going  to 
be  ? '  I  stammered,  in  a  tone  of  horror. 

"  *  An  actress !  Don't  you  congratulate  me  on 
my  luck  ? '  exclaimed  Lisi,  overjoyed. 

"  My  astonishment  was  so  great  that  I  could  not 
utter  a  syllable.  Frau  Rink  seemed  not  to  like  my 
silence,  and  she  said  coldly :  '  What  makes  you  so 
surprised,  Herr  Herzog  ?  At  Lisi's  age  talents  easily 
come  to  light.' 

" 4 1  didn't  know  she  had  the  slightest  taste  in  this 
direction,'  I  said. 

" '  We  didn't  know  it  either,'  said  Frau  Rink,  *  and 
how  could  we — for  Lisi  has  done  nothing  but  work 
since  she  was  a  child.' 

"  « Father  seemed  to  guess  something,  though,'  put 
in  Lisi  eagerly ;  '  during  his  long  illness  when  I  used 
to  read  him  Schiller's  tragedies,  he  would  often  say, 
"  Well  done,  Lisi !  You're  acting  Fiesco  [or  what- 
ever he's  called] — for  me !  "  And  I  think  I  guessed 
something  too,  for  when  I  sat  at  work  the  livelong 


TWO  YEARS  LATER.  67 

day  I  used  to  go  over  the  pieces  I  had  seen  played. 
So  I  was  not  nearly  so  surprised  as  mother  when  my 
uncle  said  I  must  go  on  the  stage.  I  believe  it's 
my  calling,'  added  Lisi  with  her  bewitching  laugh, 
'  just  as  it's  yours,  Herr  Herzog,  to  become  a  priest.' 

"'I  am  very  doubtful  about  mine,'  I  answered, 
still  quite  dazed. 

"  *  Oh,  so  much  the  better,  so  much  the  better ! ' 
she  exclaimed.  'I  should  be  so  glad  if  you  weren't 
to  be  a  priest,  because  you  once  told  me  that  priests 
don't  go  to  the  theatre,  and  I  really  do  want  you  to 
see  me  act  to  have  your  opinion  about  it.' 

"  *  How  I  wish  I  could  get  you  a  place  with  the 
same  advantages  and  fewer  dangers,'  I  said.  '  No 
sacrifice  would  be  too  great.' 

"  *  But  as  you  cannot,'  put  in  Frau  Rink,  '  I  must 
beg  you  to  let  my  poor  Lisi  alone,  and  not  to  put 
things  into  her  head  which  she's  too  innocent  to 
understand.' 

**  I  cannot  describe  my  state  of  mind.  Everything 
was  chaos  except  my  love  for  Lisi.  It  comforted  me 
a  little  to  think  that  she  would  stay  at  Y.  all  through 
the  winter.  She  fascinated  me  to  so  great  an  extent 
that  my  studies  were  almost  an  impossibility.  I 
went  to  a  few  philosophical  lectures.  Sometimes 
they  interested  me,  sometimes  I  absolutely  could  not 
follow  them,  and  so  lost  the  thread  and  the  whole 
point  of  the  metaphysical  proposition.  I  avoided 
my  former  professors,  lost  sight  of  my  friends,  and 
felt  myself  alone  in  the  world,  but  I  had  Lisi,  and 
that  was  enough.  Of  course  I  saw  her  every  day, 
and  sometimes  without  her  mother.  On  one  of  these 


68  TWO  YEARS  LATER. 

occasions  I  told  Lisi  of  iny  love,  and  was  enchanted 
to  hear  that  it  was  returned,  much  to  Frau  Rink's 
disgust  and  anger.  During  Lent  Herr  Rink  sent 
for  Lisi.  She  was  to  remain  in  his  school  till  the 
summer,  and  then  he  was  to  bring  her  out.  Her 
preparations  were  soon  made,  and  so  were  mine. 
The  capital  offered  more  resources  for  my  studies 
than  Y.,  but  my  chief  concern  was  to  be  near  Lisi. 
Frau  Rink  was  beside  herself,  and  declared  that  her 
daughter's  good  name  would  suffer.  I  said  her  en- 
gagement would  be  a  protection  for  Lisi,  and  she 
was  on  my  side,  which  carried  the  day.  We  have 
been  here  since  the  first  of  March." 

"  Since  March  !  five  whole  months  I  "  exclaimed 
Franz. 

"  My  torture  has  begun,"  continued  Telesphor,  not 
heeding  his  friend's  expression  of  pain.  "  Lisi  is  no 
longer  mine.  Her  uncle  took  possession  of  her  at 
once.  He  was  delighted  with  her  talent,  her  quick- 
ness, her  inimitable  gift  of  acting,  her  charming 
voice,  and  her  graceful  movements.  She  was  pleased 
with  everything,  and  felt  herself  quite  in  her  element. 
She  introduced  me  to  Herr  Rink  as  her  intended,  and 
I  was  in  a  great  way  at  his  saying :  '  O,  nonsense, 
Lisi !  it's  only  child's  play.  You  are  both  a  great 
deal  too  young  to  bind  yourselves  for  life.' 

"  '  We  don't  think  so,'  said  Lisi,  touchily. 

"  Herr  Rink  was  a  good-humored  man.  He  added, 
*  Don't  be  vexed,  my  dear  girl ;  I  didn't  mean  any 
want  of  respect  to  your  seventeen  summers.  And 
perhaps  the  gentleman  has  talent  for  the  stage  ? ' 

" '  Not  the  smallest,'  I  exclaimed  in  a  fright,  whilst 


TWO  YEARS  LATER.  69 

Lisi  clapped  her  hands  and  cried  out  joyfully,  '  That 
would  be  enchanting  !  I  couldn't  imagine  anything 
nicer.' 

"  '  Or  perhaps  the  gentleman's  a  poet  ? '  asked 
Herr  Rink.  '  He  looks  to  me  too  interesting  and 
too  impressionable  for  a  mere  medical  student.' 

" '  Why,  uncle,  how  well  you  read  faces,'  inter- 
rupted Lisi  in  high  delight  again.  '  Yes,  he's  a  poet ! 
He  can't  deny  it — I  have  quantities  of  most  beautiful 
poetry  by  him.' 

"  '  Bravo  ! '  he  said,  clapping  me  on  the  shoulder.\ 
'  But  leave  lyric  poetry  alone,  young  man,  and  de- 
vote yourself  to  the  drama.  Write  comedies,  so  that 
we  needn't  be  always  tied  to  translations  from  the 
French.  Write  for  Lisi.  I  am  sure  it  will  inspire 
you  both.' 

"  When  I  looked  at  Lisi's  joyful  eyes,  it  seemed  as 
though  the  glimmering  spark  of  poetry  within  me 
burst  into  a  bright  flame,  and  I  felt  a  longing  to 
write  a  piece  worthy  of  her  and  her  talent  which 
would  associate  my  name  with  hers.  But  how  could 
I  find  the  time  for  working  hard,  seeing  as  much  as 
possible  of  Lisi,  and  writing  poetry  ?  How  could  I 
do  it  all?  And  you  wonder  at  my  being  here  five 
months  without  coming  to  see  you  ? 

"  I  hid  myself  in  the  most  remote  corner  of  the 
theatre  at  Lisi's  first  appearance.  My  opinion  about 
her  acting  is  not  worth  having,  because  I'm  carried 
away  as  soon  as  I  look  at  her ;  but  the  thundering 
applause  which  she  called  forth  showed  that  the  pub- 
lic was  carried  away  too.  Her  success  was,  of  course, 
a  great  satisfaction  to  me,  but  a  cross,  too,  for  I  was 


70  TWO  TEARS  LATER. 

jealous.  That  sea  of  applauding  people  had  a  certain 
right  to  Lisi's  beauty  and  charms,  and  any  one  was 
free  to  express  his  admiration.  She  has  been  the 
public  idol  since  that  day,  and  lives  in  a  constant 
whirl.  She  has  no  end  of  visits,  rehearsals,  and 
representations.  I  live  opposite  to  her  house. 
When  I  see  that  she's  alone  I  make  my  way  over  to 
her  at  once,  but  alas,  we're  not  left  long  undisturbed. 
Yesterday  I  was  in  the  park  with  her  mother  and  her 
for  the  first  time  since  she  has  been  on  the  stage. 
And  this  painful  life  full  of  torturing  jealousy  is 
now  my  life.  I  have  to  bear  it,  for  Lisi  is  the  whole 
world  to  me.  Now  you  understand  everything. 
Fare  you  well." 

And  Telesphor  rushed  out  as  stonnily  as  he  had 
come  in. 

"  I  will  keep  my  own  counsel,  and  pray  to  God 
that  I  may  not  be  exposed  to  similar  temptation," 
thought  Franz  to  himself. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

BETWEEN  TWO    WOBLDS. 

NOTHING  is  heard  about  the  happiest  marriage 
any  more  than  about  the  happiest  woman.  This  was 
true  of  Oswald's  and  Florestine's  married  life.  Her 
husband  was  most  devoted  to  her,  her  mother-in-law 
adored  her,  and  she  was  loved  and  honored  by  all 
around  her.  It  sometimes  struck  her  that  her  father 
had  prepared  her  for  all  sorts  of  crosses  and  trials,, 
yet  she  could  not  descry  the  slightest  cloud  on  her 
horizon.  Full  of  life  and  intelligence,  rich,  and 
elegant,  it  is  no  wonder  that  she  was  the  object  of 
much  attention.  In  spite,  however,  of  the  court 
which  was  paid  to  her,  she  remained  impervious  to 
flattery,  a  beautiful,  smiling,  sparkling  star.  It  was 
Franz  who  made  the  comparison  to  Amelia  Verden, 
one  night  at  a  ball. 

"  I  always  feel  inclined  to  say,  *  Look,  there's  the 
star,'  when  I  see  Flore  at  a  ball,  or  amongst  other 
women." 

"  Very  flattering  for  Flore — less  so  for  us,"  said 
Amelia.  "  What  should  you  compare  the  rest  of  us 
to?" 

"  To  flowers,  Amelia,  to  a  garden  brimful  of  the 
choicest  flowers ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  Perhaps  the 

71 


72  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

flowers  are  prettier  and  more  taking,  but  a  star's  a 
star." 

"  I  am  beginning  to  think  she's  your  polar  star, 
Franz." 

"  There  you're  quite  out,  Amelia  !  I  love  her  as 
I  should  a  dear,  kind  sister,  but  she's  not  my  polar 
star." 

"  Who  is,  then  ?  You  might  as  well  tell  me  all 
about  it,  now  that  you've  begun,  and  as  I  have  no 
interesting  secrets  of  my  own,  other  people's  fasci- 
nate me  immensely.  Now,  tell  me  plainly,  is  art 
your  polar  star  ?  " 

"  A  secret  joked  about  soon  ceases  to  be  interest- 
Ing,"  he  said  laughing. 

"  Ah,  now  I  know  that  you  have  one  !  "  she  ex- 
claimed. "I  only  suspected  it  before.  But  to  re- 
turn to  Florette,  I  must  tell  you  I  never  thought 
that  she  would  take  her  place  in  society  so  easily.  I 
feared  she  would  be  stiff,  mum,  and  stand-off." 

"  What  on  earth  for,  my  dear  Amelia  ?  " 

"  How  you  question !  Why,  because  of  Uncle 
Justin's  peculiar  principles.  He  brought  her  up  very 
seriously,  had  her  educated  by  learned  professors.  I 
love  and  respect  him  all  the  same,  especially  now  that 
I  see  how  well  his  plan  has  succeeded  with  Flore." 

"  Don't  you  know  what  the  Bible  says,  Amelia  ?  " 

"  My  dear  Franz,  don't  expect  the  Bible  from  me. 
It  must  contain  many  things  of  which  I  have  not 
the  remotest  notion." 

"  For  instance,  that  piety  is  useful  for  everything, 
and  this  is  what  our  peculiar  uncle  had  in  his  mind 
for  his  daughter." 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  73 

"  And  for  you,  too  ?  " 

"  Only  the  soil  in  my  case  was  less  productive." 

"  Of  course.  Women  are  always  a  hundred  times 
better  than  men." 

"  Not  always,  Amelia,  though  to  make  up  for  the 
extraordinary  damage  your  sex  inflicted  on  mine,  it 
follows  that  women  are  occasionally  superior  to 
us.  On  the  whole,  things  are  much  of  a  piece,  I 
fancy." 

"  Who  has  done  you  *  extraordinary  damage  '  ?  " 
she  asked  in  a  tone  of  great  interest. 

"  O,  you  daughter  of  Eve ! "  he  answered,  laugh- 
ing, and  added :  "  Now  I  must  find  a  lady  for  the 
cotillion.  If  I  can't,  it  will  be  on  your  conscience, 
for  holding  me  spellbound." 

"  How  light-hearted  he  is,  talking,  laughing,  and 
joking !  "  thought  Amelia  to  herself.  "  Still  Franz 
has  his  secret." 

Since  the  birth  of  Florestine's  son,  the  Lauingens' 
cup  of  happiness  was  filled  to  overflowing. 

*'  Oswald,  I  have  always  to  be  thinking  of  Poly- 
crates  and  his  ring,"  she  said  one  day  to  her  hus- 
band. 

"  Pagan  sentiments,"  he  answered.  "  The  gods 
may  be  envious  of  man's  happiness,  but  not  God." 

After  the  birth  of  his  grandson,  to  whom  he  stood 
godfather,  Herr  von  Cronenstein  made  his  will.  In 
it  he  left  his  daughter  his  sole  heiress,  with  the  con- 
dition, however,  that,  in  the  event  of  a  second  son, 
he  should  succeed  after  her  death  to  the  Cronenstein 
property,  and  take  the  name  of  Cronenstein. 

"  You  make  me  so  happy,  dear  father,"  said  Flor- 


74  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

estine.  "  I  shall  be  the  mother,  I  hope,  as  well  as 
the  daughter,  of  a  Cronenstein." 

"  Only  take  care  you  don't  make  little  Lauingen 
jealous  of  little  Cronenstein,"  said  Oswald  playfully. 

On  Florestine's  return  to  the  capital  wi  i  her  hus- 
band and  child,  she  heard  Telesphor's  sad  ory  from 
Franz. 

"  We  must  save  him  I "  she  exclaimed  at  once  in 
her  energetic  way.  "  Let  him  be  what  he  likes  in 
the  world  as  long  as  he  doesn't  lose  his  soul." 

"  Throw  yourself  into  the  water  after  the  man  who 
chooses  to  drown  himself,"  said  Franz. 

"  All  the  same  we  must  try.  Bring  him  here.  I 
shan't  be  going  out  much  this  winter, — not  to  any 
balls — on  account  of  the  child,  so  we  can  have  plenty 
of  cosy  evenings.  To-morrow  my  father  is  coming 
with  your  mother ;  so  it  will  be  almost  the  same  here 
as  it  used  to  be  at  Cronenstein.  Only  Oswald  and 
Florestan  are  new,  and  they  are  a  great  addition 
and  an  immense  gain  to  our  party.  If  Telesphor  can 
only  once  feel  at  home  with  us,  he  will  soon  get 
right  and  act  reasonably." 

"  How  can  a  man  feel  at  home  with  you  when  he 
is  forever  behind  the  scenes  with  an  actress  ?  "  asked 
Franz. 

"  Oh,  it  can't  be  as  bad  as  that !  "  she  answered, 
"  and  if  it  is,  he  may  come  right." 

Telesphor's  bondage  grew  more  and  more  oppres- 
sive. He  attended  his  lectures  as  seldom  as  possible, 
and  wasted  the  time  he  spent  away  from  Lisa  Rink 
and  the  theatre  in  wretched  attempts  at  writing  a 
play.  It  was  a  talent  he  did  not  possess  :  he  was 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  75 

not  made  either  to  act  himself  or  to  write  for  actors. 
His  passion  robbed  him  of  his  judgment,  and  he  was 
playing  a  false  card  for  a  false  happiness. 

Lisa  Rink  was  no  longer  the  poor  little  milliner, 
who  had  engaged  herself  to  him  she  hardly  knew 
why.  Very  different  men  now  paid  her  attentions, 
opening  out  a  glowing  future,  so  that  her  own  ex- 
pectations were  considerably  raised.  Retiring  from 
the  stage  in  four  or  five  years'  time  just  to  marry 
Telesphor  Herzog,  seemed  to  her  quite  preposterous, 
and  her  vanity  and  worldliness  made  her  discard  the 
notion.  But  she  knew  that  he  loved  her  desperately  s 
and  she  scarcely  liked  to  break  with  him.  He  had 
loved  her  when  poor  and  unknown,  and  if  she  fell 
back  again  into  poverty  and  solitude,  he  would  love 
her  all  the  same.  The  knowledge  tickled  her  vanity, 
so  she  let  things  go  on  as  they  might. 

Telesphor  felt  only  too  keenly  that  he  was  play- 
ing a  very  poor  part  in  the  society  which  surrounded 
Lisa  Rink.  Pride  urged  him  to  get  out  of  his  ob- 
scurity by  writing  dramas.  Rink,  the  manager,  gave 
him  the  best  advice  as  to  the  requisites  for  a  good 
comedy,  but  advice  did  not  enable  him  to  write  one. 

"  For  goodness'  sake,  Herr  Herzog,  get  down 
from  your  high  horse  when  you  want  to  write  con- 
versation," said  Herr  Rink.  "  Your  talks  are  full  of 
high-sounding  heroics.  Dreadfully  stiff!  If  you 
must  have  heroics  write  tragedies,  although  the 
bombastic  style  is  no  longer  popular  even  for  tragedy. 
Everything  now  has  to  go  on  the  level,  smoothly, 
without  effort.  It's  the  fashion  to  appear  in  every- 
day clothes  on  the  stage." 


76  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

"  You  know,  Herr  Rink,"  answered  Telesphor, 
"  that  I  am  writing  for  Lisa,  and  that  tragedy  is  not 
her  line." 

"  Let's  leave  Lisi  alone,  and  you  consult  common 
sense.  I've  always  heard  that  it's  more  difficult  to 
write  a  good  comedy  than  a  good  tragedy.  We're 
agreed  that  your  attempts  at  comedy  so  far  haven't 
been  successful.  Well,  then,  I  say  try  tragedy. 
Before  you're  ready,  Lisi  may  perhaps  venture  on 
it,  though  I  doubt  whether  her  voice  is  powerful 
enough." 

"  She's  so  young  that  she  hasn't  come  to  her  full 
powers.  She  ought  to  try  a  higher  line ;  then  she 
would  appear  on  great  stages." 

"  Nonsense ! "  interrupted  the  manager,  up  in  arms 
for  his  theatre.  "Actors  can  do  quite  as  well  for 
themselves  on  small  stages.  I'm  the  last  person  to 
want  to  see  Lisi  on  a  large  stage,  and  shan't  be  in  a 
hurry  to  advise  her  to  one." 

"  I  shall,  then,"  said  Telesphor  coldly. 

u  What  are  you  thinking  of?"  went  on  the  man- 
ager ;  "  what  right  have  you  to  influence  Lisi  ?  " 

"  The  right  of  her  affianced  husband,  Herr 
Rink." 

"  Oh,  stuff  !  Haven't  you  got  that  childish  nonsense 
out  of  your  head?"  said  the  manager  scornfully. 
"  That  was  all  very  well  when  you  were  a  student, 
but  no  man  in  his  senses  gives  it  a  thought.  If  Lisi 
had  remained  at  Y.  as  a  milliner,  the  thing  might 
have  gone  on,  as  far  as  I'm  concerned,  and  have  ended 
any  way  it  liked.  Then  you  suited  each  other ;  one 
had  nothing,  and  the  other  a  little.  But  from  the 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  77 

time  that  Lisi  appeared  on  the  stage,  and  made  a 
noise,  you're  not  the  same  people,  and  that's  as  sure 
as  two  and  two  make  four." 

"  Lisi  thinks  differently,"  blurted  out  Telesphor, 
who  hurried  away  to  find  her. 

She  was  alone,  to  his  great  delight.  She  was  sit- 
ting back  in  a  deep  arm-chair,  learning  a  part  by 
heart,  which  was  lying  on  her  lap,  and  playing  mean- 
while with  a  noisy  gray  parrot  in  a  cage  at  her  side. 
The  room  was  very  comfortably  furnished,  gay  with 
fragrant  flowers.  The  contrast  between  the  miser- 
able room  at  Y.  with  the  two  geranium  pots  in  the 
window-sill  was  striking ;  between  the  quiet,  shabby, 
industrious  Lisi  of  those  days,  and  the  elegant  Frau- 
lein  Lisa  Rink,  who  busied  herself  languidly  with 
the  most  startling  fashion  magazine,  and  made  her 
light  tasks  still  lighter  by  playing  and  lounging 
through  them. 

*'  Look,  Telesphor !  "  she  said,  pleasantly  shaking 
her  roll  of  paper  together. 

"  O  Lisi,  do  you  still  love  me  ?  "  he  asked  pas- 
sionately. 

"  Oh,  of  course,  only  I  should  like  you  to  call  me 
Lisa,  and  to  use  you  instead  of  Du"  she  answered, 
laughing. 

"  Before  people,  yes,  but  why  when  we  are  alone  ?  " 
he  asked  touchily. 

"  Because  I'm  afraid  you  might  forget  yourself  be- 
fore people." 

"  And  you're  afraid  of  that  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  am.  I  won't  have  people  talking 
because  I'm  on  the  stage." 


78  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

"  They're  more  likely  to  talk  about  the  idiots  I  see 
here  only  too  often." 

"  Idiots  I  "  said  Lisa  haughtily.  «  They're  gentle- 
men of  the  best  society,  who  admire  my  art,  and 
artistes  who  honor  it." 

"Aren't  both  admiration  and  attentions  for  the 
artiste  rather  than  for  the  art  ?  " 

"  I  can't  draw  these  fine  distinctions,  because  I'm 
perfectly  indifferent  in  the  matter,"  she  said,  strok- 
ing the  parrot's  head.  "  Admiration  and  attentions 
are  part  of  an  artiste's  life,  and  so  they  are  my  due, 
and  I  must  have  them."  < 

"But  they  may  completely  dry  up  all  affection." 

"Possibly.  Up  to  the  present  they  have  not 
affected  me  in  this  way." 

"  O  Lisi,  how  happy  you  are  making  me  !  " 

Their  talk  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
Frau  Rink. 

Telesphor  lodged  opposite.  As  he  was  going  in  at 
his  door,  he  was  met  by  Franz,  who  said  heartily  : 
"  Now,  I've  caught  you.  I've  been  pacing  the  street 
for  the  last  hour  and  a  half,  for  just  as  I  came  up,  I 
saw  you  disappear  in  a  house  over  the  way,  and  I 
was  determined  not  to  go  back  without  carrying  out 
my  orders." 

"  Your  orders  ?  Will  you  come  upstairs  with  me  ? 
or  perhaps  you  had  better  say  whatever  it  is  here. 
You  know  I  am  up  three  stories,"  answered  Teles- 
phor, visibly  put  out. 

"No,  I  will  come  with  you.  I'm  half-frozen 
from  my  watch  in  the  snow,"  answered  Franz. 

They  had  hardly  reached  Telesphor's  room  when 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  79 

he  said  hastily,  as  if  to  get  something  disagreeable 
over,  "  "Well,  what  about  your  orders  ?  " 

"  Florestine  sends  her  love,  and  wants  you  to  come 
to  a  Cronenstein  evening  to-night.  Her  father  and 
my  mother  arrived  yesterday.  She  herself  came  with 
Lauingen  a  week  ago,  and  brought  her  dear  little  boy 
with  her.  She's  the  same  as  ever,  and  will  be  de- 
lighted to  see  you." 

"  It'll  hardly  be  possible  to-day.  I  have  a  new  bit 
of  work  on  hand,  that  is,  I've  undertaken  something 
..."  said  Telesphor,  hesitating  between  impatience 
and  vexation. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  be  put  off  in  this  way,"  an- 
swered Franz,  "  for  Flore  wouldn't  believe  the  excuse, 
and  would  fancy  I  had  not  asked  you." 

"I  can't  help  it.  Make  her  see  that  it's  im- 
possible." 

"  I  can't  do  that,  for  I  don't  believe  in  your  im- 
possibility !  "  Franz  answered  laughing. 

"  Well,  I  can't  go,"  answered  Telesphor  shortly. 

"  You  are  begged  to  come  by  your  oldest  and  best 
friends,  and  you  thrust  them  away,"  said  Franz 
gently. 

"  I  don't  thrust  them  away — indeed  not ;  but  I'm 
no  longer  suited  to  them.  I  have  different  views 
and  interests  to  those  I  once  had." 

"  Perhaps  it  would  do  you  a  great  deal  of  good  to 
hear  the  familiar  voices  of  your  old  friends." 

"  No,  nothing  does  me  good  which  brings  back  the 
past.  You  know  my  case " 

"  Are  you  still  full  of  that  ?  "  exclaimed  Franz. 

u  Still  full  of  that !     You're  trifling,"  said  Teles- 


80  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

phor  drily.  "  I  love  Lisi,  and  the  whole  world  is 
nothing  to  me." 

"  So  I  see,"  said  Franz  sadly.  "  But  neither  Flor- 
estine  nor  my  uncle  will  understand  it.  They  are 
full  of  heart,  and  for  that  very  reason  the  world  is 
something  to  them.  But  tell  me  what  new  bit  of 
work  you  have  on  hand  this  evening." 

"  First  I  must  go  to  the  theatre,  for  Lisi  is  acting, 
and  then  I  must  write  a  comedy,  for  it's  a  promise  to 
her  .  .  .  and  I  must  get  at  it  at  once." 

"Then  will  you  come  to  Florestine  to-mor- 
row?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  to-morrow,  by  all  means  !  "  exclaimed 
Telesphor,  only  wishing  to  escape  importunity. 

No  sooner  was  Telesphor  alone  than  he  sat  down 
to  his  writing-table,  meaning  to  sketch  out  a  plot 
which  he  had  vaguely  in  his  mind.  He  could  not 
put  it  into  words  so  easily,  nor  give  it  shape  and 
form.  So  the  afternoon  passed  away  to  no  purpose. 
As  long  as  the  plot  was  in  his  head  it  seemed  good,  but 
directly  it  was  put  on  paper  it  was  stilted  and  dis- 
connected— a  lifeless  thing.  Wearied  out  at  last,  he 
longed  for  the  theatre  to  release  him,  though  secretly 
vexed  that  he  could  not  succeed,  whereas  formerly 
he  had  worked  so  vigorously  and  easily.  He 
breathed  again  at  the  theatre.  Lisa  was  acting. 
He  saw  and  heard  her,  and  forgot  the  rest,  even  the 
pain  of  his  own  broken  life.  The  first  piece  was  over, 
and  as  Lisa  did  not  appear  in  the  second,  it  had  not 
the  smallest  charm  for  Telesphor.  He  left  the  thea- 
tre to  go  to  her.  He  had  hardly  reached  the  door 
when  he  felt  two  pairs  of  arms  laid  upon  him,  and  a 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  81 

not  unfamiliar  voice  said :  *'  A  prisoner  by  high  com- 
mands !  Quick,  to  the  carriage  !  " 

He  had  not  time  to  wonder  at  being  thus  waylaid, 
for  Oswald  von  Lauingen  and  Franz  took  him  out 
between  them  to  the  carriage. 

"  These  are  Florestine's  orders,"  said  Lauingen. 
"  She  insists  upon  having  you  on  our  first  cosy  even- 

ing." 

Telesphor  yielded  as  graciously  to  his  fate  as  he 
could.  It  would  have  been  too  unfriendly  to  resist 
these  kind  overtures.  Florestine  welcomed  him  as  a 
friend  of  old  times,  she  herself  being  just  the  same. 
Her  father  and  aunt  were  also  quite  as  friendly  as 
ever.  Florestine  had  endless  questions  about  her 
dear  Cronenstein. 

"  Teles,"  said  Herr  von  Cronenstein,  "  have  you 
heard  what  a  great  thing  your  father  has  just  done 
for  his  native  town  ?  He  has  made  over  your  grand- 
mother's house,  which  Rabener  has  been  occupying 
up  to  now,  on  easy  terms,  to  the  Pfarrer,  who  has 
used  it  for  Vincent  Guldman's  purposes  and  placed 
teaching  Sisters  there,  and  they  are  going  to  open  a 
small  boarding-school.  The  ladies  of  X.  are  clamor- 
ing for  something  better  than  the  elementary  school, 
and  good  Fraulein  Mausel's  lessons  in  science." 

*'  What's  become  of  Rabener,  then  ?  "  asked  Teles- 
phor. 

"  The  house  was  inconveniently  situated  for  him. 
He  had  constantly  before  his  eyes  two  reminders  of 
the  dark  ages,  St.  Francis'  Mount  on  the  right  and 
Cronenstein  on  the  left.  He  didn't  care  for  his 
neighbors,  so  he's  bought  the  Webler  house." 
6 


82  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

"  Bought  it  ?     Is  he  getting  on  so  well  as  that  ?  " 

"Capitally,  it  seems,  for. he  even  wanted  to  rent 
your  father's  small  house  for  some  relations  of  his, 
who  desired  setting  up  a  school  at  X.  But  your  father 
favored  the  Pfarrer's  scheme,  and  the  Sisters  came 
into  possession  at  the  new  year,  though  they  had  to 
encounter  some  opposition." 

"  And  it's  still  going  on,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl, 
"  for  just  before  I  came  away  I  heard  that  the  Medi- 
zinalrath  and  the  Mayor  would  get  the  secular  teach- 
ers to  come — or  at  least  one,  and  that  she  would 
easily  find  a  livelihood." 

"  So  X.  is  keeping  pace  with  the  century  in  having 
an  opposition  party,"  said  Lauingen  laughing. 

"  It's  no  laughing-matter,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl. 
"  It  may  embitter  the  poor  Sisters'  lives.  This  storm 
of  worldliness  against  the  Church  is  hateful." 

"  I  fancy  if  a  good  spirit  could  possibly  get  to  hell 
he  would  not  be  suffered  there,"  said  Florestine. 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  her  father.  "  The  poor 
Sisters  must  be  prepared  for  much  friction.  In  our 
days  it  is  inevitable." 

"  It  seems  so  when  even  X.  sets  up  its  back  against 
a  clever  community  who  are  duly  qualified  to  teach," 
said  Lauingen.  "  They  cannot  be  charged  with 
either  want  of  knowledge  or  incapacity.  They  do 
the  work  of  secular  teachers  in  their  religious  habit. 
That's  their  crime." 

"  Their  teaching  is  too  Catholic  for  certain  people. 
Knowledge  is  not  culture.  A  man  with  a  vast 
amount  of  knowledge  may  be  very  uncultured  in  the 
highest  sense." 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  83 

"  Yes,"  exclaimed  Florestine,  "  it's  essentially 
Catholic  to  think  first  and  last  of  souls,  therefore 
hateful  to  the  heathenish  spirit  of  the  day.  What 
sort  of  man  is  your  brother-in-law,  the  Medizinalrath  ?  " 
she  asked  abruptly,  turning  to  Telesphor. 

"  My  brother-in-law  !  "  he  said  absently. 

"  Yes — Rabener,  your  brother-in-law.  I  mean,  is 
he  one  of  those  doctors  who  look  for  the  soul  with 
the  surgical  knife,  and  because  they  don't  find  it  deny 
the  soul's  existence — deny  everything,  in  short  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  whether  he  goes  as  far  as  all  that," 
answered  Telesphor. 

"  If  he  denies  one  thing  he  denies  all,"  she  said. 

"  The  ancients  believed  in  God  and  immortality, 
as  well  as  in  rewards  and  punishments  after  death. 
They  had  an  Elysium  and  an  Olympus,  a  Hades  and  a 
Tartar  in  their  mythology,"  said  Telesphor.  "  That 
was  enough  for  them.  They  knew  nothing  of  a  re- 
demption. What  satisfied  the  refined,  intellectual, 
and  highly-cultured  Greeks  may  well  satisfy  a  par- 
ticular man  now." 

"  How  do  you  know  the  Greek  was  satisfied  with 
his  religion  ?  "  asked  Franz.  "  We  know  that  Soc- 
rates was  not  satisfied  with  his.  and  so  we  may  con- 
clude that  a  Plato  or  a  Sophocles  would  have  opened 
wide  their  soul's  eyes  to  the  light  of  the  Incarnation." 

"  Really,  how  can  you  name  Rabener  and  Plato  in 
the  same  breath  !  "  exclaimed  Telesphor.  "  Protag- 
oras is  more  to  the  point.  He  said  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  know  whether  the  gods  existed,  and  that  for 
two  reasons,  first,  the  obscurity  of  the  subject;  and, 
second,  the  shortness  of  human  life." 


84  BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS. 

"  But  this  saying  of  the  old  sage  does  not  justify 
the  supposition  that  he  was  contented  with  his  want 
of  conviction." 

"  All  people  who  are  so  ready  to  deny  God  on  hear- 
ing an  unbelieving  professor's  lectures  and  after  read- 
ing one  or  two  anti-christian  books,  should  take  to 
heart  Protagoras'  wonderfully  pertinent  saying  that 
human  life  was  too  short  to  prove  God's  existence," 
said  Lauingen. 

"  That's  so  true  that  the  Incarnation  came  to  the 
rescue  of  human  incapacity,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl. 

"  I've  very  little  intercourse  with  Dr.  Rabener," 
said  Herr  von  Cronenstein,  "  but  it  strikes  me  he's 
exactly  the  kind  of  man  who  is  produced  by  a  false 
culture.  They  make  the  history  of  the  world  begin 
with  themselves." 

"  Look,  Florette !  "  said  Franz,  laying  a  sheet  of 
paper  before  her  on  which  was  a  rough  pencil  sketch. 

"  Oh ! "  said  Florestine,  "  here's  the  good  spirit  in 
hell."  Franz  had  drawn  a  group  of  sad,  hopeless 
figures,  surrounded  by  serpents  and  monsters.  They 
were  gazing  with  despair  at  a  soft-winged  apparition, 
who  hovered  over  them,  bearing  a  lily. 

"  This  is  earth  as  well  as  hell,"  said  Florestine, 
gravely. 

"  But  what  a  thing  it  is  to  have  a  cousin  with  a 
ready  pencil !  "  said  Lauingen.  "  Flore  gives  utter- 
ance to  a  sentiment,  and  he  makes  it  immortal." 

"  You'll  come  very  often,  won't  you  ?  "  said  Flores- 
tine to  Telesphor  as  she  wished  him  good-by. 

"  You're  always  welcome,"  said  her  father. 

"  If  you  won't  come  by  fair  means,  you  shall  by 


BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS.  85 

foul,"   added  Lauingen  heartily.     "  It  has  answered 
capitally.'* 

Telesphor  said  yes  to  everything.  It  seemed  to 
him  he  was  himself  one  of  the  wretched  spirits, 
gazing  in  despair  at  the  heavenly  apparition. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A    TRAGEDY. 

WITH  spring  Franz  meant  to  go  to  Rome.  He 
would  then  complete  his  three  years'  study  at  the 
Art  Academy,  and  thought  it  time  to  set  up  indepen- 
dently in  his  profession.  Frau  von  Strahl,  therefore, 
dreaded  spring. 

"It  means  fresh  blossoms,"  he  said,  "  and  perhaps 
this  time  they  will  be  something  quite  special." 

"  They  may  still  be  cut  off  by  frosts  at  night,"  she 
said  sadly. 

"  My  friends  call  me  for  fun  Achilles  the  invul- 
nerable," he  said  cheerily.  "  Your  prayers,  mother 
dear,  are  the  Styx  in  which  you  must  be  always 
plunging  me.  I  really  ought  to  be  able  to  get 
through  a  few  of  life's  battles." 

"  Don't  you  suppose  that  poor  Frau  Herzog  prays 
for  her  Teles  as  I  pray  for  you,  and  yet  look  at  him  !  " 

"  Think  of  St.  Augustine,  mother." 

"  My  dear  boy,  it's  the  only  wonder  of  its  kind  in 
eighteen  centuries." 

"  But  there  are  many  St.  Augustines  in  a  small 
way.  You  certainly  won't  question  the  possibility 
of  a  man's  becoming  better  and  being  converted." 

"  Of  course  not ;  it's  what  we  have  to  do  every  day, 

for  there's  always  something  to  improve  and  to  con- 

86 


A  TRAGEDY.  87 

vert.  Telesphor's  conversion  is  not  impossible,  but 
only  so  difficult  because  he  seems  to  me  paralyzed, 
without  interest  in  study,  work,  or  the  great  battles 
which  are  being  fought  before  our  eyes  for  religion 
and  truth.  That  was  not  St.  Augustine's  way,  my  boy. 
He  did  not  give  up  everything  at  twenty-two,  nor 
was  he  indifferent  to  the  great  questions  of  his  day. 
In  the  midst  of  his  pleasures  he  wrestled  and  strug- 
gled after  the  truth,  and  he  passed  his  days  learning 
and  teaching  in  continual  and  close  intellectual  labor. 
Where  this  inward  fire  exists,  it  may  burst  into  a 
heavenly  flame,  if  properly  fed.  Is  it  so  with 
Telesphor  ?  " 

"  He  always  reminds  me  of  the  Scripture  words, 
*  How  art  thou  fallen  from  heaven,  who  didst  rise  in 
the  morning.'  " 

"  How  seldom  he  comes  to  us — perhaps  once  in 
three  weeks,"  she  went  on,  "  and  what  a  way  he  has  of 
talking !  He  never  betrays  himself,  and  one  cannot 
imagine  what  is  really  in  his  mind.  Did  you  remark 
the  other  day  how  much  he  made  of  Montaigne's  say- 
ing, 4  What  do  I  know  ? ' " 

"  The  sorrowful  look  my  uncle  gave  him  went  to 
my  heart,"  said  Franz. 

"  Hasn't  that  dreadful  person  sent  him  about  his 
business  yet  ?  Amelia  declares  that  Alfred  Verden 
is  in  her  good  graces." 

•'  Teles  gets  out  of  my  way,  and  if  we  meet  by  ac- 
cident he  talks  of  the  weather." 

u  Yes  ;  anything  to  do  with  Cronenstein  bores  him 
— that's  quite  apparent.  He  no  longer  feels  at  home, 
either  with  his  old  friends  or  in  good  society,  and  it's 


88  A  TRAGEDY. 

a  dreadful  calamity  for  a  young  man.  What  a  warn- 
ing for  you,  Franz  !  " 

It  was  true  indeed  that  Telesphor  turned  away 
from  the  friendly  arms  which  would  have  piloted 
him  safely  across  the  angry  waters.  He  cared  noth- 
ing for  friends,  parents,  or  relations  when  compared 
to  Lisa  Rink.  In  the  meantime  her  vanity,  selfish- 
ness, and  coquetry  were  making  giant  strides.  Her 
whole  life  was  a  very  hothouse  for  them.  There  was 
nothing  in  her  to  check  them.  She  had  no  education, 
culture,  common-sense,  or  religious  principles  where- 
with to  resist  their  stormy  influences.  Her  particu- 
lar talent  for  comedy  brought  her  in  touch  with  a 
certain  class  of  representations  in  which  noble  senti- 
ments, great  truths,  and  serious  thoughts  have  no 
place.  All  she  was  concerned  with  in  her  parts  was 
how  to  please,  or  rather,  how  to  gain  applause,  and 
as  she  was  very  young,  the  parts  which  she  acted 
became  habits.  If  her  coquettish  ways  on  the  stage 
charmed  people,  why  should  not  the  same  thing  be 
tried  off  the  stage  and  with  the  same  happy  results  ? 
What  was  to  prevent  her  ?  She  made  the  attempt, 
naturally  with  the  most  brilliant  success. 

As  the  heart,  so  the  man.  Saints  are  made  by 
love  of  God,  sinners  by  the  love  of  what  is  ignoble. 
Telesphor  loved  Lisa  Rink,  and  one  after  the  other 
his  good  points  vanished.  Her  hand  unstrung  the 
cluster  of  pearls,  which  rolled  into  the  dust.  She 
did  not  forbid  him  to  speak  of  love.  Making  con- 
quests was  part  of  her  day's  work.  Why  should  he 
weary  of  adoring  as  long  as  she  was  not  weary  of 
being  adored  ? 


A  TRAGEDY.  89 

"  What  a  nuisance  that  Herzog  is ! "  said  Frau 
Rink  one  day.  "  It  annoys  me  to  see  him  hanging 
about  you  without  rhyme  or  reason." 

"O,  mother,  don't  be  so  ungrateful,"  answered 
Lisa  carelessly.  "  He  loved  me  in  my  poverty  ;  why 
shouldn't  he  love  me  in  my  splendor  ?  " 

"  Because  he's  not  splendid,"  said  Frau  Rink,  im- 
patiently. "  He's  not  a  prince  or  an  artist,  or  a  jour- 
nalist, nor  even  a  smart  lieutenant.  He's  nothing 
but  a  miserable  student,  who  never  gets  on." 

"  Only  wait  till  his  comedy  is  ready,  mother. 
Then,  perhaps  he  will  be  as  much  applauded  and 
noticed  as  I  am." 

"He's  been  an  immense  time  at  this  comedy," 
grumbled  Frau  Rink.  "  I  don't  expect  anything  from 
it.  It's  certain  to  be  a  failure.  If  it  should  be,  Lisi, 
you  must  send  him  about  his  business,  you  really 
must." 

"  Nobody  must  do  anything,  says  somebody  or 
other.  There's  no  must,  and  I  don't  hold  with  the 
word,  mother.  I'm  a  human  being,  and  not  an  au- 
tomaton." 

"  It's  beyond  anything,"  said  Frau  Rink  angrily. 
"  Here  are  great  people  paying  you  attentions,  a  real 
prince,  a  royal  highness,  and  you  fritter  yourself  away 
on  that  blockhead,  as  if  you  were  still  the  milliner  on 
the  third  story." 

"  Mother,"  said  Lisa,  cutting  her  short,  "  I  don't 
like  sermons.  I  see  the  people  I  choose  to  see,  and 
I'm  not  the  least  humbled  if  among  them  there  hap- 
pens to  be  somebody  who  knew  me  when  I  was  poor 
Lis^.  On  the  contrary,  it's  gratifying.  It  shows  me 


90  A  TRAGEDY. 

what  a  genius  I  am,  and  what  wonders  I've  done  in  a 
year  for  myself,  and  you  and  my  brothers.  Do  the 
boys  go  to  school,  and  are  they  good  at  their  left- 
sons?" 

"  Philip  talks  of  nothing  but  being  an  actor,"  re- 
plied Frau  Rink  in  a  scarcely  audible  tone,  after 
being  thus  called  to  order  by  the  bread-winner  of  the 
family. 

"  Stupid  boy  ! "  said  Lisa  ill-naturedly  ;  "  as  if 
people  could  become  actors  as  they  become  shoe- 
makers and  carpenters !  Well,  and  what  of  Gabriel  ?  " 

"He's  very  good  and  industrious,  but  not  very 
quick." 

"  Look,  mother,"  said  Lisa  pacified.  w  One  of 
your  boys  doesn't  want  to  learn,  and  the  other 
can't,  so  congratulate  yourself  that  you  have  got 
Lisi,  and  don't  weary  her,  for  there's  nothing  she 
hates  more  than  being  bored.  I  have  a  feeling  for 
Telesphor,  and  I  won't  throw  him  off.  I'm  not 
simple  enough  to  think  of  marrying  him,  be  sure  of 
that." 

The  door  opened  and  admitted  Count  Alfred  Ver- 
den  and  another  young  man. 

"  Fraulein  Lisa,"  he  began,  u  I  am  bringing  you 
some  one  who  is  going  to  the  country  of  Venus, 
Hebe,  the  Muses,  and  the  Graces.  But  as  they  are 
marble,  he  wishes  first  to  make  the  acquaintance  of 
Fraulein  Lisa,  who  unites  all  their  charms  in  her 
own  person,  with  countless  others.  For  instance, 
she's  not  made  of  lifeless  stone.  Allow  me,  therefore, 
the  honor  of  introducing  my  friend  and  cousin,  Herr 
von  Strahl,  a  genius,  and  so  an  art  relation  of  yours." 


A  TRAGEDY.  91 

"  What's  your  art  ?  "  asked  Lisa,  casting  a  some- 
what surprised  look  at  Franz,  whose  refined  and  dig- 
nified appearance  formed  a  strong  contrast  to  the 
men  she  was  in  the  habit  of  seeing. 

"  I'm  a  sculptor,"  replied  Franz. 

"  That  must  be  a  toilsome  art !  But  you  won't  be 
going  away  before  the  races  ?  "  said  Lisa. 

"  They  are  to  be  in  the  middle  of  June,  aren't 
they  ?  "  asked  Franz. 

"  Just  listen  to  the  miserable  creature  !  He  doesn't 
even  know  that  they  are  to  be  in  the  middle  of  June," 
exclaimed  Count  Alfred.  "  Examine  him  about  the 
race-horses  and  their  owners  ;  you'll  find  him  densely 
ignorant." 

"  I'm  immensely  interested  in  these  races,"  said 
Lisa. 

"  Are  they  your  first  ?  "  asked  Franz. 

"  Oh,  no,  I  was  at  them  last  year ;  but  now  I  know 
some  men  who  are  running  horses,  and  how  much 
they  stake  on  them,  and  so  I'm  immensely  keen 
about  it." 

"  Angel  of  kindness  ! "  said  Count  Alfred  with 
rapture.  "May  I  ask  in  whom  your  interest  cen- 
tres?" 

"  Why  not  ?  In  Prince  Xaver  and  his  Morgen- 
stern." 

"  That's  very  unjust,  I  consider,  and  to  revenge 
myself,  I  must  tell  you  that  Prince  Xaver's  racer  is 
not  called  Morgenstern,  but  Morning  Star." 

"As  I  don't  understand  English,  Prince  Xaver 
himself  gave  me  this  translation." 

"  Quite  right.     Still  when  you  talk  of  Morgensterfc, 


92  A  TRAGEDY. 

no  one  suspects  you  of  meaning  Morning  Star.  If 
any  one  called  you  Fraulein  Elizabeth,  it  would 
sound  cold,  stiff,  distant.  There's  a  charm  about 
Fraulein  Lisa.  Much  the  same,  though  of  course 
with  an  immense  difference,  may  be  said  of  Morning 
Star." 

"  Very  well ;  I'll  remember  what  you  say.  I'm 
ready  to  learn,"  said  Lisa,  turning  to  Franz  to  ask  if 
he  frequented  the  theatre  as  he  was  bound. 

"I  very  seldom  go,"  he  said.  "I've  very  little 
time." 

"  What  a  privation  ! "  she  said  compassionately. 
Then  to  Count  Alfred :  "  How  did  you  like  my  act- 
ing the  day  before  yesterday  at  the  Court  Theatre  ?  " 

"  I  pity  the  unfortunate  woman  who  attempts  to 
rival  you ! " 

"  It  seemed  to  me  that  I  acted  the  part  very  simply 
and  naturally." 

"  Indeed  you  did,  Fraulein  Lisa !  Your  charming 
naivete*  is  inimitable." 

"  My  uncle  sometimes  advises  me  to  go  an  immense 
deal  to  the  theatre  to  study  other  actors,  so  as  not  to 
get  into  a  groove.  But  I  find  a  great  deal  more  to 
blame  than  to  praise,  and  nothing  to  learn,  as  I  fol- 
low my  inward  bent  in  acting,  and  that's  not  helped 
by  other  people's  interpretation." 

"  Only  keep  to  your  own  way.  You  are  perfect  in 
it,  and  perfection  prevents  one-sidedness." 

"  Do  you  think  so  too  ?  "  asked  Lisa  of  Franz. 

"  It's  not  always  true,"  he  answered ;  "  indeed, 
there  are  curious  instances  to  the  contrary." 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  them,"  exclaimed  Alfred. 


A  TRAGEDY.  93 

"  Two  or  three  generations  ago  the  celebrated  cat 
painter,  Mint,  lived  at  Bern.  He  painted  cats  and 
children  in  thousands  of  ways  and  attitudes  and 
groups,  with  so  much  freshness  and  life  and  natural- 
ness that  it  was  impossible  to  look  at  his  pictures 
without  pleasure,  and  not  to  admire  his  talent.  But 
it  was  his  particular  line,  and  it  was  confined  to  chil- 
dren and  cats.  It  did  not  go  beyond  them,  nor  his 
interest  either.  He  was  so  wanting  in  understand- 
ing for  anything  else  that  people  called  him  half 
daft.  For  all  that  his  groups  of  children  and  cats 
are  unrivalled." 

"  That's  certainly  a  very  one-sided  excellence," 
laughed  Lisa. 

"And  an  extraordinary  destiny!  To  have  the 
single  faculty  of  painting  cats !  "  exclaimed  Count 
Alfred. 

"  Don't  forget  the  general  rehearsal,  Lisa.  It  will 
soon  be  time,"  said  Frau  Rink,  who  never  took  part 
in  the  conversation,  but  sat  with  her  work  at  the 
window,  and  saw  each  visitor  from  a  discreet  dis- 
tance. 

"  I  wish  you  a  pleasant  journey  to  the  marble 
statues,"  said  Lisa  somewhat  spitefully  to  Franz,  as 
she  rose  in  obedience  to  her  mother's  warning. 

When  the  two  young  men  were  on  the  street,  Alfred 
burst  out :  "  It  will  always  be  a  mystery  to  me  why 
you  called  upon  Lisa  Rink.  You  had  not  a  word  of 
admiration  for  her,  nor  a  word  about  any  of  her 
parts.  You  told  her  about  a  stupid  cat-painter.  If 
I  had  suspected  what  you  were  going  to  do,  I  should 
never  have  introduced  you  to  her,  for  really  you  do 


94  A  TRAGEDY. 

me  no  credit.  What  could  you  want  with  her  at 
all  ?  " 

"  Just  to  see  what  she  is  really  like." 

"  Without  any  arridre  pensSe  ?  " 

"  I  wanted  to  know  whether  she  really  was  the 
great  genius  people  pretend  that  she  is." 

"  Well,  and  what's  your  conclusion  ?  " 

"  They  may  be  right  as  far  as  the  stage  is  con- 
cerned. I  have  seen  her  only  twice,  and  that's  not 
enough  for  a  thorough  opinion.  Within  her  own 
four  walls  she  strikes  me  as  a  very  pretty,  vapid  and 
vain  little  person,  just  about  equal  to  entertain  men 
who  are  as  empty  and  blasS  as  Prince  Xaver." 

"  You're  a  polar  bear,  making  Lisa  Rink  the  sub- 
ject of  psychological  studies,"  said  Alfred. 

"  Well,  you  know  I  belong  to  the  polar  bear  tribe," 
said  Franz  quietly,  and  leaving  Alfred  he  went  up 
the  street  again,  and  called  on  Telesphor. 

"Oh,  congratulate  me,"  exclaimed  the  latter  to 
him.  "  I've  finished  my  play." 

"  The  work  seems  to  have  cost  you  trouble.  You 
look  tired,  and  I  don't  fancy  your  medicine,"  answered 
Franz,  pointing  to  two  empty  champagne  bottles. 

"  During  the  day  I  was  not  inclined  to  write,  and 
had  other  things  to  do,  but  night  and  champagne 
stirred  me  up,  and  put  me  into  a  writing  mood.  I 
hope  the  piece  will  come  on  next,  and  if  it  takes,  I 
shall  continue  at  the  business." 

"  Is  it  a  clever  comedy,  after  the  fashion  of  '  Donna 
Diana '  for  instance  ?  "  asked  Franz. 

"  Oh,  no,  not  at  all !  It's  a  comedy  in  every-day 
dress,  as  Rink  expresses  it,  which  is  what  people  like." 


A  TRAGEDY.  95 

"  But  supposing  it  should  not  take,  what  then  ?  " 

"  Lisa  plays  the  principal  part,  so  it  must  take." 

"  Now,  show  yourself  at  Florestine's,  Teles,  as  you 
have  got  through  your  work.  We've  only  a  short 
time  to  be  together,  for  I  am  going  to  Rome,  and 
who  knows  how  and  when  we  may  meet  again — if 
we  ever  do  meet." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I'll  come.  Give  them  all  my  best  love, 
but  now  I  must  go  with  my  manuscript  to  Rink." 

Franz  observed  with  sorrow  that  Telesphor's  whols 
mind  was  turned  away  from  his  old  friends,  and  the 
feeling  came  upon  him  that  their  paths  were  cast 
forever  apart. 

"  Is  your  opus  ready  at  last  ?  "  said  Herr  Rink  as 
Telesphor  put  the  manuscript  into  his  hand.  "  If 
the  proverb  '  slow  and  sure '  be  true,  you  are  bringing 
me  something  first-rate." 

He  turned  it  over  with  the  practised  hand  of  ex- 
perience, whilst  Telesphor  expressed  various  wishes 
about  the  piece  and  its  being  speedily  put  on  the 
stage.  The  manager  interrupted  him  occasionally 
with  a  remark :  "  No  sustained  dialogue !  .  .  . 
Humph,  not  bad !  .  .  .  scene  drags  .  .  .  Too  coarse ! 
No,  it  won't  do,"  he  said  suddenly,  quite  harshly. 
"  I've  told  you  that  comedy  should  appear  in  every- 
day clothes,  but  I  never  said  in  shirt-sleeves/' 

"  I  will  make  any  alterations  you  think  necessary," 
answered  Telesphor.  "  I  trust  to  you,  not  having 
personal  experience  of  the  stage." 

"The  whole  thing  seems  to  me  a  labored  com- 
position, not  a  happy  inspiration.  Well,  we'll  see 
what  can  be  done  with  it."  He  kept  it  for  several 


96  A  TRAGEDY. 

days,  went  over  it  fully,  made  various  changes,  but 
shook  his  head  over  them,  and  jaid  irritably  :  "  Give 
it  up,  my  dear  fellow.  The  thing's  a  cripple  and  re- 
mains a  cripple.  It  will  never  be  able  to  trip  gayly 
across  the  stage." 

"  You  won't  allow  me  the  satisfaction  of  having 
written  a  good  part  for  Lisa,"  burst  out  Telesphor. 

They  both  grew  warm,  and  the  manager  stormed 
in  upon  Lisa. 

"  It's  high  time  for  you  to  shake  off  your  admirer, 
my  dear,"  he  said  to  her  in  a  rage. 

"  Which  of  them  ?  "  asked  Lisa  carelessly. 

"Which  of  them?  Why,  that  Herzog,  of 
Bourse !  " 

"  What's  he  done,  uncle  ?  " 

"  He  has  written  a  comedy." 

"  Oh,  is  it  ready  at  last  ?  He  always  said  it 
wanted  finishing  off!  I'm  so  pleased,"  and  she 
clapped  her  hands  for  joy. 

"  You  may  spare  yourself  your  elation,  my  dear. 
Yes,  it's  ready,  and  finished  off  as  much  as  it  can  be. 
But  the  thing's  a  fine  mess,  stupid  and  coarse  to  a 
degree  that  people  won't  stand.  At  least  they  might 
put  up  with  the  coarseness,  but  not  with  the  stu- 
pidity." 

"  Never  mind,  uncle.  If  Jplay  people  are  always 
enchanted." 

"  I  tell  you  the  composition's  not  worth  the  trouble 
of  copying  out  the  parts.  It  will  be  a  fiasco,  and 
you,  too." 

*'  /  a  fiasco  I "  shouted  Lisa,  springing  up,  as  a 
venomous  serpent  might.  "  What  nonsense,  uncle  f 


A  TRAGEDY.  9? 

I  tell  you  now  positively  that  the  piece  must  be 
studied  and  brought  on  without  delay.  If  it  isn't, 
I  shall  play  my  parts  on  a  new  stage  this  summer, 
and  then  you'll  see  what  this  theatre  is  without 
me." 

"  Bother  these  obstinate  women ! "  grumbled  the 
manager. 

"  That's  all  right,  uncle.  If  we  hadn't  a  little  bit  of 
self-will,  what  protection  should  we  have  against  the 
tyranny  of  the  stronger  sex  ? "  asked  Lisa  laugh- 
ing. 

u  Stronger  sex,  indeed ! "  said  Herr  Rink  crossly ; 
"  I  see  nothing  strong  about  it.  I  am  a  goose, 
and  have  never  yet  learned  how  to  treat  with  ac- 
tresses." 

"  Uncle !  "  she  said,  in  a  threatening  tone. 

"  It's  the  truth,  Lisi.  I  risk  my  reputation  as  a 
manager  in  allowing  that  piece  to  appear." 

"  I  don't  care  if  you  do,  uncle.  You  know  my 
wish." 

And  she  had  her  way.  The  piece  was  not  only 
most  carefully  rehearsed  ;  it  was  also  announced  in 
very  laudatory  terms  as  the  first  production  of  a 
young  genius.  Lisa's  vanity  left  nothing  unturned 
to  make  it  a  success  through  her  acting.  The  theatre 
critics  praised  without  knowing,  in  order  to  please  the 
reigning  actress.  Their  commendations  took  effect. 
The  play-going  world  was  on  the  tip- toe  of  expectation 
to  see  the  wonderful  piece  which  an  unknown  author 
had  written  solely  and  entirely  for  Lisa  Rink.  One 
said  he  was  the  young  son  of  a  duke,  another  that  Lisa 
was  engaged  to  a  country  pastor,  and  that  he  had 
7 


98  A  TRAGEDY. 

composed  the  play.  Before  the  day  fixed  for  the 
first  performance  came,  Franz  had  left  for  Italy,  and 
his  mother  and  uncle  for  Cronenstein.  Telesphor 
had  hardly  made  time  to  wish  them  good-by.  Count 
von  Lauingen  was  staying  in  town  for  the  last  sitting 
before  going  to  Seeheim.  He  too  had  heard  an  im- 
mense deal  about  the  new  comedy,  and  as  Florestine, 
contrary  to  her  wont,  also  expressed  great  interest 
in  the  matter,  he  took  a  box  ;  people  had  to  engage 
these  weeks  before  the*  performance.  Florestine 
heard  the  author's  name  from  Franz,  but  she  awaited 
the  result  before  disclosing  it. 

In  her  way,  Amelia  Verden  was  quite  as  enthusi- 
astic an  admirer  of  Lisa  Rink  as  her  brother-in-law 
t  Alfred ;  she  viewed  as  real  and  not  affected  the 
simple  parts  which  Lisa  played  excellently  well. 

"  Isn't  it  dear  and  quite  Arcadian  of  the  innocent 
creature  to  be  engaged  to  a  country  clergyman?" 
she  said  to  Florestine,  as  they  were  talking  of  the 
play.  Lauingen  burst  out  laughing  and  replied  : 

"  Don't  deceive  yourself,  Amelia.  An  idyll  with 
Prince  Xaver  seems  to  me  far  more  likely." 

"  That's  what  I'm  always  telling  my  wife,"  said 
Count  Verden,  "  but  in  vain.  She  won't  distinguish 
between  art  and  nature  in  the  actress." 

"  You  are  both  against  the  bewitching  creature," 
exclaimed  Amelia. 

"  Not  at  all,"  answered  her  husband.  "  I  think 
her  charming  on  the  stage,  but  it  seems  to  me  some- 
what bold  to  carry  her  passion  for  admiration  and  her 
ranity  into  her  private  life." 

Of  course   Amelia   did  not  give  up  her  views. 


A  TRAGEDY.  99 

She  was  one  of  those  who  could  not  exist  without  a 
craze  of  some  kind. 

The  evening  of  the  performance  came  at  last. 
Lauingen  with  his  wife  and  mother,  Amelia  with  her 
husband  and  brother-in-law,  were  sitting  expectantly 
in  their  box.  The  house,  not  a  large  one,  was 
crowded,  and  the  heat  stifling. 

"  What  pleasure  for  a  June  evening,"  said  Flores- 
tine  to  her  husband. 

"  It  was  your  wish,  my  dear  child." 

u  Of  course  it  was,"  she  laughed.  "  The  spell  has 
drawn  me  as  well  as  others." 

But  her  heart  was  heavy.  The  Telesphor  of  early 
days  came  before  her,  and  she  thought  of  the  May 
evening  under  the  budding  limes,  when  he  had  said 
enthusiastically  that  theology  was  his  whole  life,  and 
that  he  longed  to  preach  the  eternal  truth  to  thou- 
sands of  souls. 

The  curtain  drew  up  and  the  play  began.  It  was 
the  production  of  a  pen  without  talent  and  of  a 
brain  goaded  on  by  stimulants- ;  it  was  wearisome  and 
wanton  from  beginning  to  end.  Lisa  appeared  in 
the  third  scene.  She  was  greeted  with  loud  applause, 
which  diminished  during  the  scene  itself,  and  only 
began  again  as  she  left  the  stage,  a  clear  sign  that  it 
was  given  solely  to  her.  After  the  first  act  her  sup- 
porters tried  to  rouse  some  enthusiasm,  but  the  pub- 
lic remained  cold. 

"  It's  really  a  shame  to  have  come  to  such  a  piece," 
said  Countess  Lauingen,  Oswald's  mother. 

"  Who  could  have  expected  it  from  a  simple  coun- 
try clergyman  ?  "  said  Oswald,  laughing,  to  Amelia. 


100  A  TRAGEDY. 

"  I  ean't  understand  Lisa's  taking  such  a  part," 
said  Amelia. 

"  Still  she's  an  angel,  and  always  will  be  one,"  said 
Alfred  emphatically. 

"  Even  after  the  failure  of  the  piece  ? "  said  his 
brother. 

Florestine's  heart  was  too  heavy  for  talking.  The 
second  act  was  worse  than  the  first.  The  intrigue 
was  spun  out  to  a  more  wearisome  extent,  and  the 
complications  and  jokes  were  coarser  to  make  up 
for  it.  Deep  silence  greeted  its  close,  and  the  faint 
applause  elicited  by  Lisa's  friends  was  drowned  by 
vigorous  hissing. 

Florestine  could  bear  it  no  longer.  "  Dear  Oswald," 
she  said,  pale  and  trembling,  to  her  husband,  "  do  take 
me  away.  I  am  suffocating  in  this  heat." 

Lauingen  saw  her  out  and  into  the  carriage,  and 
then  returned  to  the  box.  The  third  and  last  act 
began,  and  at  its  close  furious  hisses,  cries,  and 
stamping  showed  the  feeling  of  the  audience.  Lauin- 
gen with  Count  and  Countess  Verden  drove  back  to 
Florestine.  Alfred  hurried  to  Lisa. 

"  What  a  wretched  apology  for  pleasure,"  sighed 
Amelia  in  the  carriage. 

"  How  could  they  announce  this  miserable  produc- 
tion as  a  work  of  art  ?  "  said  Verden  impatiently. 

"  What  must  be  the  author's  feelings,  whoever  he 
may  be  ?  "  said  Lauingen. 

They  found  Florestine  and  her  mother-in-law  sit- 
ting quietly  at  the  tea-table. 

"  I'm  convinced  that  all  these  plays,  be  they  what 
they  may,  produce  a  certain  imbecility  in  people," 


A  TRAGEDY.  101 

said  Count  Verden.  "  People  who  give  their  eyes 
and  ears  to  stage  figures  for  three  or  four  hours  a 
day  must  grow  weak  in  intellect." 

"  That's  a  bad  lookout  for  us  who  go  so  often  to 
the  theatre,"  said  Amelia  to  Countess  Lauingen. 

"  Strong  minds  are  an  exception,  aren't  they, 
Amelia  ?  "  replied  the  latter  laughing.  "  But  Count 
Verden's  not  altogether  wrong." 

"  Still  the  theatre  is  universally  supposed  to  be  an 
education,"  remarked  Amelia. 

"  The  very  word  '  education '  is  a  party  phrase 
nowadays,"  answered  her  husband.  "  We  must  not 
receive  it  before  we  are  quite  clear  what  is  meant. 
Put  yourself  a  question,  Amelia,  before  you  become 
the  apologist  of  the  stage.  Would  you  like  to  see 
your  own  sons  what  Alfred  is  ?  Hardly,  I  think. 
And  how  does  he  get  his  information  ?  From  the 
theatre  and  all  that  the  theatre  teaches." 

The  door  opened  and  Alfred  himself  walked  in, 
scarcely  able  to  contain  his  excitement. 

"  Here  you  all  are,  sitting  quietly,  having  your  tea 
and  your  ices,  whilst  I  have  been  witnessing  a  dread- 
ful scene — a  wholly  unexpected  scene,"  he  ex- 
claimed. 

"  Calm  down,  and  then  tell  us  all  about  the  mur- 
der and  blood-shedding,"  said  Oswald,  handing  him 
an  ice. 

"  It's  worse,"  answered  Alfred. 

"  Not  a  revolution  ?  "  asked  Countess  Lauingen, 
turning  pale. 

"  Or  a  great  fire  ?  " 

"  Has  the  theatre  given  way  ? 


102  A  TRAGEDY. 

"  Or  have  the  heavens  collapsed  ?  "  asked  Count 
Verden,  satirically. 

"  You've  nearly  hit  it,"  answered  Alfred. 

"  The  heavens  collapsing !  What  nonsense  !  "  said 
Amelia. 

"  But,  my  dear  Count,  who  has  suffered  from  this 
catastrophe  ?  "  asked  Florestine,  her  thoughts  busy 
with  Telesphor. 

"  I  have,  Countess  Flore,"  answered  Alfred,  turn- 
ing their  suspense  into  laughter  by  helping  himself 
to  a  second  ice.  "  And  I  appeal  to  you,  for  you  will 
understand  me  best." 

•'  This  is  getting  interesting,"  exclaimed  Oswald, 
whilst  Florestine,  still  thinking  of  Telesphor,  listened 
with  painful  anxiety. 

"  Isn't  the  destruction  of  our  ideals  a  collapse  of 
the  heavens  ?  Well,  I've  seen  it  with  my  own  eyes, 
for  I've  seen  an  angel  changed  into  a  fury  !  When 
the  curtain  had  fallen  on  that  wretched  production 
I  hastened  to  Lisa  Rink,  and  found  her  most  dread- 
fully angry,  I  might  almost  say,  raging.  She  could 
scarcely  contain  herself.  She  was  stamping  and 
exclaiming,  *  The  wretch,  the  simpleton  !  He  has 
disgraced  me  !  I'll  never  see  him  again.  I  hate 
and  detest  him.'  So  she  went  on.  I  suggested  that 
the  hissing  had  not  been  meant  for  her.  '  Silence  !  * 
she  answered,  angrily.  '  I  know  that,  but  when  I 
am  on  the  stage,  I  expect  peace  and  quiet  at  least.' 
Her  old  uncle,  the  manager,  said  coolly :  *  The 
whole  thing's  your  own  fault,  Lizzie !  Why  didn't 
you  listen  to  my  experience  ?  Why  did  you  en- 
courage the  wretched  thing  ?  '  'I  did  it  out  of  com- 


A  TRAGEDY.  103 

passion,'  exclaimed  Lisa,  '  and  this  disgrace  is  my  re- 
ward/ I  tried  to  soothe  her,  but  she  held  her  ears  with 
both  her  hands  and  screamed  out, '  Hold  your  tongue, 
will  you?  Your  foolish  remarks  can't  deaden  the 
shouts  which  are  still  in  my  ears.'  You  can  under- 
stand, Countess  Flore,  what  an  effect  it  all  produced 
on  me.  I  answered  that  I  would  never  trouble  her 
again  with  my  l  foolish  remarks.'  She  said,  '  I 
shall  be  very  glad  of  it,'  and  turned  her  back  upon 
me.  So  the  heavens  have  collapsed, — my  heavens,  I 
mean,  and  I  must  try  to  recover  my  senses." 

"  Alfred,  you  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  mentioning 
these  follies  before  ladies,"  said  Count  Verden  im- 
patiently, "  but  of  course  a  man  doesn't  learn  wisdom 
and  tact  from  angels  who  become  furie"  behind  the 
scenes." 

They  parted  for  the  evening.  When  Florestine 
was  alone  with  her  husband,  she  could  no  longer 
keep  back  her  tears. 

"  Oswald,  Telesphor  Herzog  wrote  this  dreadful 
play,"  she  said  to  him.  "  What  can  we  do  to  make 
him  alter  his  ways  ?  " 

"  Nothing  whatever,"  answered  Lauingen,  greatly 
surprised  by  the  news. 

"  Oh,  don't  say  that !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  If  we 
don't  think  of  him  now,  who  will  ?  " 

"  You  know  how  pleased  I  am  to  do  as  you  wish, 
Florette, — but  I  own  I've  no  desire  to  seek  out  this 
student  or  writer  or  whatever  he  is.  He  has  shown 
us  plainly  enough  that  he  didn't  feel  at  home  in  our 
house.  But  if  he's  really  the  author  of  that  piece,  I 
can  understand  his  constraint  with  us,  and  of  course 
he  can't  care  for  our  society." 


104  A  TRAGEDY. 

"  Before  Franz  left  he  told  me  that  Teles  had 
written  a  play,  but  that  he  wouldn't  show  it  to  him 
and  didn't  want  it  to  be  known  as  his  for  the 
present." 

"  I  should  think  not,  and  I  hope  it  never  may  be. 
Cheer  up,  More — perhaps  the  failure  may  bring  him 
to  his  senses." 

Florestine  could  not  rest  satisfied  with  this  very 
faint  hope.  She  wrote  a  short  note,  and  posted  it 
the  following  morning  early  on  her  way  to  Mass. 
It  was  to  Telesphor's  father. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THUNDER   CLOUDS. 

TELESPHOR  was  humbled  to  the  dust.  On  the 
momentous  evening  he  had  left  the  theatre  before 
the  end  of  the  piece,  but  not  too  soon  to  realize  his 
failure.  He  passed  a  night  of  feverish  misery,  eating 
out  his  heart.  Herr  Rink  appeared  the  following 
morning  and  told  him  harshly  that  all  was  now  over 
between  Lisa  and  himself.  She  regretted  her  kind- 
ness to  him,  and  hoped  he  would  keep  away  in 
future,  for  she  had  quite  made  up  her  mind  not  to 
see  him. 

"  I  told  you  exactly  how  it  would  be,"  added 
Herr  Rink.  "  I  told  you  that  you  are  not  suited  to 
Lisi,  and  also  that  your  play  was  worth  nothing. 
I've  some  experience,  but  you  would  not  listen  to 
reason.  They  say  the  man  who  won't  take  advice 
must  buy  his  own  experience.  Now  you  know  what 
it  is  to  have  had  two  enormous  delusions.  I  hope 
they  may  be  a  good  warning  to  you." 

"  So  do  I,"  answered  Telesphor,  with  a  harsh  and 
bitter  laugh,  as  he  saw  Herr  Rink  to  the  door. 

His  heart  was  dead  within  him.  He  had  sacrificed 
his  all  to  an  idol  who  was  absolutely  insensible  to 
him.  Incapable  of  any  resolution,  he  stood  at  his 
window,  watching  to  see  who  called  upon  Lisa.  He 

105 


106  THUNDER  CLOUDS. 

was  unwilling  to  leave  for  a  single  minute  a  post 
which  he  deemed  so  important.  The  champagne,  to 
which  he  helped  himself  freely,  kept  up  the  un- 
natural excitement. 

Lisa  had  been  staying  in  the  house  for  three  days. 
She  was  said  to  be  ill  with  vexation  at  the  incon- 
siderate behavior  of  the  public,  and,  to  punish  it,  she 
intended  to  disappear  for  some  time.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  third  day  she  went  out  in  a  carriage  with 
her  mother.  Telesphor  thought  she  was  taking  a 
drive,  and  left  his  post  for  half-an-hour,  so  that  he 
missed  seeing  another  carriage,  which  followed 
shortly  afterwards,  and  fetched  the  lady's  maid,  and 
a  considerable  amount  of  luggage.  But  when  after 
two  or  three  hours  Lisa  did  not  return,  and  there 
was  no  light  in  her  windows,  he  was  in  great  dis- 
may. He  would  have  burst  into  her  house  to  ask 
where  she  was,  but  intense  agitation  nailed  him  to 
the  spot.  He  dreaded  hearing  that  she  had  gone. 
He  waited  and  waited.  Carriage  after  carriage 
passed  the  door,  and  rolled  down  the  street,  and 
each  time  his  heart  beat  high  with  expectation,  and 
then  sank  within  him.  At  length,  however,  the  car- 
riages stopped ;  only  a  few  people  overtaken  by  the 
hour  hurried  along  here  and  there,  and  soon  they, 
too,  disappeared.  The  dead  hours  of  the  night  in  a 
large  town  are  appalling :  all  is  at  rest  except  sin  and 
sorrow.  The  old  religious  houses,  who  bade  their 
inmates  consecrate  the  hours  following  midnight  to 
prayer,  fully  recognized  this.  They  sought  to  avert 
the  miasma  of  sin  by  the  incense  of  supplication. 
The  hours  passed  away ;  the  gaslight  grew  pale  and 


THUNDER  CLOUDS.  107 

weird  in  the  dawn,  gray  as  it  was,  of  the  summer 
morning.  Telesphor  fell  back  into  an  arm-chair,  and 
sank  into  a  dead  sleep.  It  was  broad  daylight  when 
he  awoke,  and  his  father  was  standing  before  him. 

"  Teles  !  "  said  old  Herzog,  putting  out  his  hand 
with  a  sad  smile.  "  I  have  come  to  take  you  away. 
It  will  be  two  years  in  August  since  you  were  last 
with  us,  and  you  write  very  seldom — not  a  word  in 
six  months  !  Your  mother  is  longing  for  you,  and 
she  is  weak  and  poorly.  Then  I  heard  that  you 
were  not  well  either,  so  I  started  off  and  am  come  to 
take  you  back  with  me.  Pack  up  your  things,  and 
I  will  help  you." 

Telesghor  recovered  his  wits  whilst  his  father  was 
speaking. 

''  Thank  you,  father,"  he  said,  outwardly  calm. 
"  You  must  forgive  me  for  my  negligence  in  not 
writing.  As  soon  as  the  holidays  begin,  I  will  come 
to  X.,  but  now  in  the  midst  of  the  lectures,  it's  im- 
possible." 

"  I  know  that  you've  not  been  to  any  lectures  for 
many  a  day.  I  know  everything,  Teles,"  said  the 
old  man  with  deep  feeling.  "  I  don't  reproach  you, 
but  I've  come  to  take  you  home — lest  the  devil 
should  have  it  all  his  own  way,"  he  added  in  his  old 
tone. 

"  What  a  state  your  things  are  in,  and  how  bad 
you  look  yourself ! "  went  on  old  Herzog,  as  he 
glanced  round  the  room.  "  No  man  with  a  well- 
regulated  mind  could  stand  such  disorder  !  Now- 
then,  get  up  and  dress  yourself,  and  in  the  mean- 
time I  will  be  packing  up  your  things.  Where's 


108  THUNDER  CLOUDS. 

your  box  ?  You  may  leave  the  books  and  papers 
here,  they  are  not  worth  much  anyhow !  Then  we'll 
go  to  an  inn  and  breakfast  and  then  start  for  X." 

Telesphor  obeyed  his  father  mechanically.  Lisi 
was  gone  ;  what  was  there  to  keep  him  in  town  ? 
But  where  was  she  ? 

Herzog  went  to  settle  matters  with  the  landlord, 
and  Telesphor  took  the  opportunity  of  rushing  across 
to  Lisa's  house. 

"  I  find  Fraulein  Rink's  apartments  shut  up,"  he 
said  to  the  porter.  "  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 

"  That  she's  gone  away — where,  I  can't  say.  It 
was  a  sudden  move.  Prince  Xaver  was  a  great  deal 
with  her  before  she  started." 

"  And  what  of  her  mother  and  brothers  ?  "  asked 
Telesphor,  with  his  heart  in  his  mouth. 

"  Frau  Rink  has  gone,  too,  but  the  two  boys  have 
been  at  the  Schalkische  Institut  for  six  weeks.  Have 
you  forgotten  that,  Herr  Herzog  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Telesphor  in  a  scarcely  audible 
tone,  and  he  found  his  way  back  again.  For  a  long 
time  past  he  had  not  given  a  thought  to  Lisa's 
brothers,  although  their  Catholic  education  had  been 
in  his  mind  when  he  followed  Lisa  to  the  capital. 
Now  they  had  been  for  six  weeks  at  an  anti-christ- 
ian  college,  and  he  knew  nothing  about  it,  so  little 
had  he  troubled  himself  on  the  boys'  account.  But 
his  negligence  on  that  score  did  not  affect  him  very 
deeply.  Lisa  had  gone,  and  Prince  Xaver  was,  so  it 
seemed,  at  the  bottom  of  it. 

Whilst  Florestine's  faithful  kindness  had  sum- 
moned old  Herzog  to  the  rescue  of  his  son,  a  telegram 


THUNDER  CLOUDS.  109 

from  Frau  von  Strahl  apprised  her  of  her  father's 
severe  illness.  In  terrible  anxiety  as  to  whether  she 
should  find  him  alive  she  started  off  for  Cronenstein 
with  her  husband  and  boy.  He  was  still  living  and 
even  somewhat  better.  Florestine  made  up  her  mind 
to  stay  on,  whether  Lauingen  were  called  away  or 
not. 

No  sooner  had  old  Herzog  heard  of  Herr  von 
Cronenstein's  illness  and  Florestine 's  visit  than  he 
went  up  to  the  Castle  to  see  her.  Florestine  was 
quite  shocked  at  his  altered  appearance,  so  bent  and 
worn  did  the  old  man  look.  That  very  evening  he 
had  an  apoplectic  seizure,  which,  however,  did  not  at 
once  prove  fatal.  He  was  able  to  receive  the  last 
sacraments  ;  then  he  became  unconscious,  and  died 
in  a  few  hours. 

'  Afra  was  summoned  to  her  father's  funeral. 
Many  years  had  passed  since  they  had  all  been 
together,  and  Telesphor  was  not  at  ease  with  them. 
He  realized  the  perfect  freedom  and  independence 
which  his  father's  death  would  bring  to  himself,  and 
the  consciousness  gave  him  a  certain  satisfaction. 
When  questioned  by  his  family  as  to  what  he  should 
do  in  the  future,  he  always  put  forward  his  medical 
studies.  There  was  only  one  drawback,  the  time 
they  required. 

Herzog's  will  was  read  the  day  after  the  funeral. 
It  announced  that  the  firm  of  Kiihn  would  imme- 
diately buy  the  whole  business  for  a  stipulated  sum, 
and  carry  it  on  without  further  trouble  to  the  heirs. 
The  requisite  documents  were  all  at  hand,  and  so  the 
division  was  effected  without  the  slightest  difficulty. 


110  THUNDER  CLOUDS. 

Telesphor  held  aloof  from  all  the  succession  business, 
saying  only  that  he  wished  to  have  his  share  paid  to 
him  in  money.  His  mother  was  concerned  at  it. 

"  Leave  it  in  the  business,  Teles,"  she  said.  "  Kiihn 
gives  us  the  option,  and  the  firm  is  as  safe  as  our 
own.  What  do  you  want  to  do  with  your  capital  ? 
Not  to  put  it  in  Government  securities,  surely,  or  to 
buy  some  outlandish  shares  or  other  ?  " 

"  I  shall  deposit  it  in  a  bank  at  the  place  where 
I  am,  so  as  to  have  it  at  hand,"  answered  Telesphor, 
who  was  only  concerned  to  put  himself  beyond  the 
least  control  from  his  family.  He  had  chiefly  in 
view  a  reconciliation  with  Lisa  Rink.  Life  at  X. 
seemed  a  meagre,  humdrum  affair  after  the  intense 
excitement  of  the  last  few  years.  His  state  of  mind 
and  feeling  made  him  a  perfect  alien  in  the  family 
circle.  Rabener  was  the  only  person  he  could  at  all 
tolerate,  for  Rabener  talked  of  Lisa  Rink,  and  de- 
lighted Telesphor  by  sympathizing  entirely  with  his 
Admiration  for  the  girl. 

"  Only  it  shouldn't  go  so  far  as  to  make  you  hate 
Jill  work,"  he  said,  as  Telesphor  owned  he  had  lost 
his  taste  for  serious  study.  "  Take  up  literature  if 
science  seems  too  dry.  You  might  write  historical 
articles  and  enlighten  the  world.  What  a  pity  it 
was  you  failed  in  writing  for  the  stage.  An  immense 
deal  can  be  done  there  for  new  lights." 

"  How  did  you  know  I  had  tried  ?  I  wrote  anony- 
mously. Only  Lisa  and  her  uncle  and  Franz  were  in 
the  secret." 

"  I  heard  it  from  friends  in  town.  Everything 
gets  out.  I  can  also  tell  you  where  Lisa  Rink  is." 


THUNDER  CLOUDS.  Ill 

"  I  know  where  she  is.  The  papers  said  she  had 
gone  to  Paris  to  study  her  art." 

"  She's  now  in  Switzerland,  where  she  has  met 
Prince  Xaver." 

Telesphor  turned  pale.  Rabener  went  on :  "  You 
are  an  idiot  to  take  the  whole  thing  so  much  to 
heart.  The  fair  sex  is  not  worth  it," 

"  You  don't  know  Lisa  ! "  said  Telesphor. 

"  But  I  know  many  like  her,"  answered  Rabener, 
"  and  I  know  what  I'm  saying.  It's  folly  to  spend 
thoughts,  feelings,  time,  strength,  money,  or  what- 
ever else  it  may  be,  in  an  absorbing  passion  for  one 
woman  when  the  world  abounds  in  charming  women." 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  answered  Telesphor. 

"  Because  you  don't  look  about  you.  You're  for- 
ever wrapped  up  in  yourself,  with  the  thought  of  Lisa 
Rink,  and  she  has  long  ago  forgotten  all  about  you." 

"  I  can't  believe  that.  She  said  it  in  a  passion  and 
didn't  mean  it.  As  soon  as  things  are  settled  here, 
I'm  going  after  her." 

"  For  my  part  I  say  that  you  must  be  cured  by 
time  and  experience.  It  would  be  wiser  to  stay  here. 
It  would  be  a  very  good  thing  for  X.  to  have  a  news- 
paper on  the  side  of  modern  progress  and  culture. 
Working  for  poor  stupid  humanity  at  X.  would  give 
you  an  interest  in  life." 

Florestine  passed  her  days  in  her  father's  sick 
room.  Oswald  was  not  half  so  ready  in  writing  to 
her  as  she  to  him,  and  she  longed  for  him  to  come. 
She  meant  to  go  with  him  and  Florestan  on  a  pil- 
grimage to  Maria  Waldrast.  Oswald  returned  on 
his  little  boy's  first  birthday,  and  was  most  affec- 


U2  THUNDER  CLOUDS. 

tionate  to  mother  and  child.  Still  Florestine  observed 
with  some  anxiety  that  he  had  no  wish  to  make  the 
pilgrimage. 

"  I  can  only  stay  three  days,"  he  said,  "  so  let  us 
keep  quietly  with  your  father,  Florette." 

She  agreed  cheerfully,  merely  remarking,  "  Three 
days  are  nothing.  Why  are  you  so  hurried  ?  " 

"  I  must  go  to  Seeheim  from  here.  There's  a  new 
threshing-machine,  a  very  dear  article,  and  I  want  to 
see  how  it  works.  In  three  or  four  weeks'  time  I 
shall  be  back  again  for  longer,  and  will  help  you  in 
nursing  your  dear  father.  What  does  the  doctor  say 
about  him  ?  " 

"  He  gives  no  hope  of  cure.  He  may  last  as  long 
as  his  strength  holds  out,  but  it  may  go  to  his  heart 
any  day." 

Oswald  left  again  in  three  days.  Florestine  was 
a  good  housekeeper,  and  had  a  full  account  sent  to 
her  every  fortnight  from  Seeheim.  It  came  three 
days  after  Oswald's  departure,  but  it  did  not  speak 
of  his  arrival  there.  In  the  meantime  he  wrote 
from  town.  The  letter  contained  not  a  syllable 
about  Seeheim  or  the  threshing-machine.  "  How 
very  odd,"  thought  Florestine  to  herself.  "  He  tells 
me  of  things,  and  says  nothing  about  them  in  his 
letters."  She  scarcely  heard  anything  of  him. 

Herr  von  Cronenstein's  decline  was  very  gradual, 
yet  none  the  less  sure. 

"  Having  you  with  him,  gnadige  Grafin,*  is  prolong- 
ing his  life,"  Dr.  Hellmut  would  say.  "  He  rests 
upon  you,  and  then  he  is  helped  by  his  peace  of 
mind  and  resignation  to  God's  will — and  of  course  by 

*  Gracious  Countess. 


THUNDER  CLOUDS.  113 

the  capital  nursing.  A  troubled  mind  would  have 
worn  out  the  body  long  ago." 

Florestine  felt  that  the  doctor  was  right,  and  could 
not  dream  of  leaving  her  father.  Only  in  every  letter 
to  her  husband  she  besought  him  to  come  and  to  stay 
as  long  as  possible.  Four  weeks  passed  away,  and 
still  he  did  not  return.  Then  in  a  few  hurried  lines 
he  told  Florestine  to  expect  him  in  a  week.  She 
read  the  letter  with  fear  at  her  heart,  saying  to  Frau 
von  Strahl :  "  What  can  have  happened  to  Oswald  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  Flore  dear.  Serious  matters  are  before 
the  House,  and  he  is  on  the  commission.  For  good- 
ness' sake  don't  set  yourself  against  your  husband's 
taking  an  interest  in  public  matters.  Young  married 
women  who  want  to  keep  their  husbands  always  at 
their  side,  are  extremely  ill-advised.  It  leads  to 
perpetual  worry." 

Florestine  was  silent;  she  did  not  deserve  the 
reproof.  Oswald  again  put  her  off  for  a  week,  and 
her  anxiety  increased.  At  last  he  came  back,  over- 
flowing with  kindness,  so  that,  as  Frau  von  Strahl 
remarked,  "he  seemed  more  bridegroom  than  hu» 
band." 

Florestine  s  love  sharpened  her  perceptions,  and 
very  soon  she  noticed  a  change  in  Oswald.  He  was 
absent,  excitable,  and  somewhat  irritable.  After  a 
week  at  Cronenstein,  he  suddenly  declared  that  he 
must  go  to  the  capital  for  three  days. 

"  I  thought  the  House  had  adjourned,"  said  Flor- 
estine,  turning  pale. 

"  So  it  has.     It's  my  own  business." 

"  Nothing  disagreeable,  Oswald  ?  " 
8 


114  THUNDER  CLOUDS. 

"  Certain  things  are  never  pleasant,"  he  said  with 
a  slightly  forced  laugh. 

"  You  won't  attempt  any  speculation  on  the  Borse, 
will  you  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,"  he  exclaimed  with  decision. 
"  Speculation  isn't  my  line.  I've  always  found  spend- 
ing money  much  easier  than  speculating  with  it." 

Florestine  was  aware  of  his  propensity  for  spend- 
ing, which  she  had  often  tried  to  keep  within  bounds, 
so  she  answered  cheerily  :  "  You  must  get  on  without 
your  lady  treasurer  this  time.* 

"  But  it's  not  money  business,  Florette.  and  I 
shall  be  back  again  in  three  days." 

And  so  he  was.  He  was  quite  himself  and  in 
very  good  spirits.  Florestine  had  no  cause  for 
anxiety,  and  secretly  reproached  herself  for  having 
felt  it.  But  her  peace  of  mind  did  not  last. 

"  Florette,"  Oswald  said  to  her  one  evening  with 
a  touch  of  constraint,  "I  must  go  to  Seeheim  to- 
morrow morning  early,  but  I  shall  be  back  the  day 
after  to-morrow  in  the  evening." 

"  I'm  very  glad  to  hear  it,"  she  answered  warmly. 
"I  shall  go  with  you  to  Seeheim.  I've  not  been 
there  for  nine  months,  and  I  should  like  to  have  a 
look  at  our  property  and  people." 

"  Can  you  make  up  your  mind  to  leave  your 
father  ?  "  asked  Oswald,  visibly  annoyed. 

"  Providence  will  watch  over  him,  and  I  may 
hope  there  will  be  no  change  for  the  worse  in  these 
Shirty-six  hours,"  she  said. 

Oswald  did  not  answer.  Dr.  Hellmut  used  to 
come  every  evening.  As  he  left  the  sick  room  with 


THUNDER  CLOUDS.  115 

Florestine,  he  was  met  by  Oswald,  who  took  them 
both  into  the  drawing-room,  where  Frau  von  Strahl 
was  sitting  at  a  great  piece  of  embroidery. 

"  You  must  decide  a  question,  Dr.  Hellmut,"  he 
said.  "  I  have  to  go  to  Seeheim  to-morrow.  I  can 
get  there  in  eight  hours  with  extra  horses,  and  I 
shall  come  back  the  following  day  in  the  same  way, 
so  it's  rather  a  stiff  journey.  My  wife  wants  to 
go  with  me  to  make  sure  that  Seeheim  is  as  usual. 
Now,  wouldn't  it  be  more  sensible  if  she  stayed  here 
quietly  with  her  father  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  would,"  said  Dr.  Hellmut,  and  Frau  von 
Strahl  upheld  him  in  his  opinion. 

Florestine  was  sensible  of  one  thing  only, — that 
Oswald  did  not  want  her.  She  seated  herself  at  the 
embroidery  frame,  and  worked  away  to  hide  her 
tears.  When  she  was  alone  with  her  husband  later, 
she  said :  "  Oswald,  you're  not  going  to  Seeheim  now, 
any  more  than  you  were  two  months  ago.  Where 
are  you  going?  You  are  keeping  something  back 
from  me,  and  making  me  very  unhappy." 

She  looked  at  him  as  she  spoke,  with  her  true  and 
loving  eyes. 

"  Dear,  sweet  Flore,"  he  said  tenderly,  "  don't 
vex  yourself  so.  As  you  press  me,  I  will  tell  you 
that  I'm  going  to  town.  I  went  straight  there  two 
months  ago.  I  told  you  I  had  business  there.  Even 
when  the  House  is  not  sitting,  a  multitude  of  things 
claim  my  attention.  Make  yourself  happy.  If  you 
don't  see  me  in  thirty-six  hours,  you  will  in  three 
days." 

At  the  end  of  three  weeks  he  was  still  away. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT'  ISIDORO. 

TELESPHOR  had  left  X.  as  soon  as  his  father's 
affairs  were  settled  and  he  had  received  his  portion. 
Straight  as  the  arrow  from  the  bow,  he  set  out  after 
Lisa.  She  was  not  in  town,  and  no  one  knew  when 
she  would  be  coming  back.  Telesphor  was  con- 
vinced that  no  information  would  be  supplied  by  the 
manager,  so  he  went  off  to  Switzerland,  studied  the 
visitors'  books,  and  soon  found  what  he  wanted.  She 
had  been  everywhere  ;  on  the  Lake  of  Zurich,  the 
Lake  of  Lucerne,  up  the  Rigi  at  Bern,  in  the  Bern 
Oberland,  but  not  recently.  He  could  not  trace  her 
further  than  Grindelwald.  There  was  no  mention  of 
her  at  Meiringen.  She  would  hardly  have  passed 
without  staying  to  see  the  Reichenbach  Falls  or 
Aarfall  in  the  neighborhood  of  Handeck.  It  was  a 
wearisome  day's  journey  through  the  wild  mountain 
scenery,  climbing  up  a  small  and  rough  path,  whilst 
far  below  them  the  Aar  thundered  along  in  its 
solemn  bed  of  rock.  If  the  traveller  is  fortunate 
enough  to  reach  the  Handeckfall  as  the  sun  is  shin- 
ing a  rainbow  over  the  abyss  of  surging  waters,  the 
majestic  peace  of  the  picture  dominates  the  chaos  all 
around,  and  the  tumult  in  his  own  soul,  if  there  be 

116 


THE  HERMIT  OF  8 ANT  fSIDORO.      117 

one.  Telesphor  had  neither  eyes  nor  ears  for  all 
this.  He  would  hardly  stop  at  the  waterfall,  and 
spurred  on  the  astonished  guide,  who  had  never  be- 
fore witnessed  so  much  indifference.  After  a  heavy 
climb  of  nine  hours,  they  reached  the  hotel  on  the 
Grimsel,  the  so-called  hospice.  Telesphor  seized  the 
visitors'  book ;  it  did  not  contain  Lisa  Rink's  name. 

*  We  must  turn  back  at  once  by  the  same  TT&y," 
LQ  exclaimed  to  the  guide,  moving  to  go. 

"  No,  sir,  it's  quite  impossible,"  answered  the  man 
quietly,  not  budging  from  his  seat,  and  looking  wis.V 
fully  at  the  goat-cheese  and  black  bread. 

"  But  we  must  go !  I'll  double  and  treble  youi 
irinkgeld" 

"  If  you  gave  me  ten  times  the  amount,  it's  impos- 
sible. There's  no  going  from  Grimsel  to  Meiringen 
by  night.  The  path's  dangerous  after  dark." 

"  Then  I  shall  go  alone,"  said  Telesphor,  grasping 
his  Alpine  stick. 

"  No,  sir,  don't  attempt  it.  If  you  fall  into  the 
Aar,  you'll  never  get  back  to  Meiringen.  To-mor- 
row you  can  manage  it  comfortably." 

It  was  blowing  up  for  a  storm  and  Telesphor  was 
obliged  to  listen  to  guide  and  landlord.  When  he 
stood  at  the  door  the  storm  region  lay  at  his  feet,  and 
lightning  darted  up  at  him  from  below.  What  did 
he  care  about  it  ?  Where  was  Lisa  ?  Did  she  love 
Prince  Xaver  ?  His  thoughts  beat  into  his  brain  as 
if  they  had  been  so  many  strokes  from  a  hammer. 

With  the  first  streaks  of  dawn  on  the  following 
morning  he  set  out  to  return  to  Meiringen.  Arrived 
there  he  was  just  thinking  whether  he  should  go  on 


118      THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT'  IS1DORO. 

to  the  Lake  of  Brienz  or  return  to  Grindelwald, 
when  the  guide  touched  him,  saying,  "  Look,  sir. 
Those  curious  English  people  are  riding  towards  us.*' 

"  Why,  they're  Bern  mountaineers,"  he  answered, 
giving  them  a  rapid  glance. 

"As  much  as  you  are  a  Bern  mountaineer,  sir. 
It's  a  silly  fancy  of  the  lady's  to  dress  as  one." 

She  presented  a  strange  appearance  on  horseback, 
dressed  in  a  dark  robe  edged  with  red,  loose  white 
sleeves,  and  a  flat  straw  hat  with  a  bunch  of  roses. 
Telesphor  gazed  and  gazed  and  stood  rooted  to  the 
spot.  It  was  Lisa  Rink,  and  the  man  who  rode  be- 
side her  in  a  brown  velvet  jacket  and  a  wide  straw 
hat  was  Prince  Xaver.  Telesphor's  whole  being  was 
in  a  wild  tumult,  but  as  she  rode  up  he  planted  him- 
self in  front  of  her  and  would  have  stopped  her 
horse.  For  a  moment  she  was  startled,  then  recog- 
nizing him,  she  held  up  her  whip,  exclaiming  angrily, 
"  Get  out  of  my  way,"  and  rode  on.  As  for  Teles- 
phor, all  the  blood  rushed  to  his  heart,  and  he  turned 
deadly  pale.  His  white  face  frightened  the  guide, 
who  put  it  down  to  the  unwonted  fatigue  of  moun- 
tain-climbing. On  reaching  the  hotel,  Telesphor 
went  to  his  room,  spiritless  and  broken-hearted.  His 
brain  was  on  fire,  and  he  was  smarting  with  humilia- 
tion and  anger.  This  was  the  being  he  had  loved — 
how  he  had  loved  her !  He  saw  his  whole  life  in 
mental  vision,  what  he  had  once  been  and  what  he 
now  was.  Yet  his  pride  would  not  own  that  a  Lisa 
Rink  had  lured  him  away  from  his  vocation. 

"It  was  not  my  vocation,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"  that  is  why  I  gave  it  up." 


THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  ISIDORO.     119 

What  was  he  to  do  ?  He  had  lost  all  taste  and 
interest  in  everything  which  was  not  Lisa.  Sud- 
denly he  remembered  a  letter  which  Rabener  had 
given  him  for  a  professor  of  the  Ziirich  University. 
Lisa  had  put  both  letter  and  professor  out  of  his 
head  when  he  had  been  at  Ziirich  on  a  former  occa- 
sion. 

He  had  scarcely  reached  Zurich  and  delivered  his 
letter  when  his  overwrought  strength  and  nerves 
gave  way,  and  he  became  seriously  ill. 

Lisa  Rink  was  extremely  annoyed  at  meeting 
Telesphor,  for  he  reminded  her  of  failure.  Rosen- 
lani,  the  prettiest  of  all  Swiss  glaciers,  found  no 
favor  in  her  eyes.  Meiringen  bored  her,  so  did 
Switzerland  itself.  She  was  bent  on  a  tour  in  Italy, 
and  Prince  Xaver  was  only  too  delighted  to  second 
her  wishes.  Lisa  sought  out  her  mother's  wing  once 
more,  to  prepare  her  for  the  Italian  expedition. 
Frau  Rink  was  used  to  being  a  mere  companion  to 
her  daughter,  whom  she  venerated  as  a  sort  of  prin- 
cess. 

They  set  out,  but  the  journey  fell  far  short  of 
Lisa's  expectations.  She  had  no  taste  for  nature,  no 
understanding  for  the  creations  of  art,  and  absolutely 
no  knowledge  of  history.  To  her  Italy  was  as  a 
huge  panorama  of  dissolving  views.  She  was  always 
for  moving  on. 

Rome  was  reached  at  last.  Possibly  Rome  might 
not  have  found  favor  in  her  eyes,  for  its  monuments 
and  galleries,  its  sculpture  and  ruins  and  holy  places 
have  one  drawback:  they  court  nothing,  nobody, 
require  to  be  themselves  courted.  However  the 


120      THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT'  ISIDORO. 

fancy  took  her  to  act  the  quasi-princess,  and  to 
patronize  some  artist  or  other.  She  told  Prince 
Xaver  that  a  relation  of  Count  Alfred  Verden's,  a 
certain  Herr  von  Strahl,  was  living  in  Rome,  and 
would,  of  course,  be  highly  flattered  by  a  visit  from 
Prince  Xaver  and  Lisa  Rink.  They  must  find  him  out. 

It  was  easily  done.  His  studio  was  at  the  top 
of  the  Pincio,  in  a  retired  quarter  near  Sant'  Isidore, 
which  is  the  church  and  convent  of  the  Irish  Francis- 
cans. It  was  on  the  ground  floor,  looking  on  to  the 
trees  of  Sant'  Isidore.  The  door  opened  straight 
into  the  street.  When  Lisa  and  the  Prince  reached 
it,  it  stood  open  to  the  refreshing  October  air,  and 
Franz  was  modeling  a  clay  bust,  too  intent  on  his 
work  to  be  disturbed  by  the  sound  of  carriage-wheels 
at  his  door.  He  was  effectually  roused  by  hearing  a 
man's  voice  saying,  "  Does  the  German  sculptor  live 
here  ?  " 

"  Probably  they  want  to  see  the  studio  of  the 
famous  German  master  Achtermann,"  he  said  to  the 
servant,  who  was  standing  at  the  door.  "  It's  quite 
close  here  on  the  Piazza  Barberini  near  the  Capu- 
chins." 

"  It's  you  we  want,  Herr  von  Strahl,  for  you  really 
are  a  countryman  of  ours,"  exclaimed  Lisa  Rink, 
and  Franz  discovered  who  was  sitting  in  the  car- 
riage. He  recognized  Prince  Xaver  at  once  and 
would  have  addressed  him  with  his  full  title. 

"Don't,  please,"  interrupted  the  Prince.  "  I'm 
here  in  strict  incognito  and  call  myself  Count  Clo- 
tar.  We're  come  to  admire  your  masterpieces." 

4 1  must  repeat  that  you've  come  to  the  wrong 


THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  1SIDORO.      121 

door,"  answered  Franz,  laughing.  "  You'll  find 
masterpieces  at  Achtennann's.  I'm  only  a  stu- 
dent." 

"  Never  mind.  It's  you  we  want,"  replied  Lisa, 
impatiently.  "  I've  already  seen  a  dreadful  quan- 
tity of  masterpieces  in  Rome." 

She  rustled  in,  raising  a  cloud  of  dust,  looked  all 
round,  and  exclaimed  laughing  :  "  Heads,  arms,  feet, 
and  hands  !  Why,  it's  a  regular  battle-field  ! " 

"  They're  only  studies,"  answered  Franz. 

"  But  where  are  your  marble  things  ? "  asked  Lisa. 

"  In  my  head,"  he  laughed. 

"  But  you  must  have  produced  something  of  some 
kind  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have — only  not  in  marble." 

He  showed  them  various  casts  :  a  St.  John  the 
Baptist  as  a  child,  a  penitent  Magdalen,  Isaac  carry- 
ing the  wood  for  his  own  sacrifice,  Cain  with  Abel's 
corpse. 

"  That's  all  fearfully  grave,"  said  Lisa,  not  in  the 
least  understanding  what  she  saw,  and  not  knowing 
what  she  ought  to  say. 

"  But  it's  fine,  very  fine — wonderfully  fine,"  said 
Prince  Xaver,  not  knowing  either,  and  still  wishing 
to  be  polite. 

"  Look  at  the  four  horses,  there,  Count.  They're 
not  the  least  like  Morning  Star,"  remarked  Lisa. 

"  War,  Famine,  Plague,  and  Death  don't  race 
on  the  turf,  and  consequently  don't  use  full-blooded 
English  horses,"  said  Franz  seriously,  though  he  was 
secretly  much  amused. 

"  That's  true,"  said  Lisa  in  a  tone  of  conviction, 


122      THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  ISIDORO. 

and  her  eyes  wandered  round  the  room.  Suddenly 
she  exclaimed,  "  Ah,  I  can  spy  out  a  woman's  head 
there.  It's  very  pretty.  Who  is  it  there  with  a 
crown  ?  " 

"  Melpomene,"  answered  Franz. 

"  But  what's  her  name  in  German  ?  I  don't  under- 
stand foreign  languages,"  she  exclaimed  impatiently. 

"  The  Muse  of  Tragedy,"  he  replied. 

"  O,  the  Muse  of  Tragedy  !  I've  been  called  a 
Muse  too — but  a  merry  one." 

"  Here's  a  fine,  life-like  woman's  bust,"  interrupted 
Prince  Xaver.  "  It's  a  speaking  likeness,  and  beau- 
tifully caught." 

He  was  standing  before  the  bust  at  which  Franz 
had  been  working.  Lisa  went  up  to  it :  "  Who  is 
it?"  she  asked. 

"  A  cousin  of  Herr  von  Strahl's,  Countess  Lauin- 
gen,*'  answered  the  Prince. 

u  Is  she  here  ?  "  went  on  Lisa, 

"  O,  no,  she's  at  home." 

"  It's  a  masterpiece  !  "  said  the  Prince.  "  That 
marble  head  will  make  you  famous.  You  must 
make  busts  your  special  line." 

"  And  how  wonderful  to  be  able  to  do  it  from 
memory,"  said  Lisa. 

"  Not  so  wonderful — considering  that  my  cousin 
and  I  grew  up  together,"  answered  Franz. 

"  I've  just  thought  of  a  capital  plan,"  said  Lisa 
saddenly.  "  You  must  make  our  fellow  countryman 
famous,  Count.  He  must  do  your  bust." 

"  Yes  and  no,"  answered  the  Prince.  "  I  will  help 
him  to  fame,  but  with  your  bust,  not  mine." 


THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  ISIDORO.      123 

"  Delightful !  "  exclaimed  Lisa.  "  I  shall  live  in 
marble.  That's  not  given  to  everybody,  and  I 
appreciate  the  honor  quite  beyond  anything." 

She  also  congratulated  herself  secretly  that  her 
speech  had  produced  the  desired  effect. 

u  When  can  you  begin  it,  Herr  yon  Strahl  ? " 
asked  the  Prince. 

"  Whenever  you  like,  Herr  Graf." 

"  Well,  then,  begin  it  at  once." 

"  O,"  exclaimed  Lisa.     "  I've  got  my  hat  on." 

M  It's  easily  removed." 

"  But  my  hair's  not  done  for  a  sitting.  I  must 
think  seriously  about  the  style  best  suited  for  a 
bust.  Now  I'm  glad  we  came  to  Rome.  I've  been 
plagued  with  the  everlasting  sight-seeing.  I  oughtn't 
to  say  it,  I  suppose." 

She  went  off  in  high  glee  with  Prince  Xaver,  and 
left  Franz  perfectly  dazed  to  think  that  Telesphor's 
life  had  been  wrecked  by  this  uneducated  creature, 
without  brain  or  soul.  He  worked  on  till  sunset, 
then  walked  out  through  the  vineyards  and  the 
Porta  Pia  to  the  Campagna. 

Lisa  Rink  made  her  appearance  on  the  following 
morning.  She  wore  no  hat,  and  her  hair  was  most 
becomingly  done,  with  a  view  to  the  bust. 

"  Haven't  I  been  clever  ? "  she  said  as  she  sat 
down  before  Franz.  "  I  had  quite  an  inspiration 
over  the  ivy-spray  which  you  see  in  my  hair." 

"  It  was  quite  an  artistic  inspiration,"  said  Franz 
approvingly.  "  It's  really  pretty  and  ornamental." 

"  How  soon  will  the  bust  be  ready  ?  "  asked  Lisa  in 
her  excitement. 


124      THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  1SIDORO. 

"  Marble  busts  are  not  done  off  like  photographs," 
laughed  Franz  ;  "  they  may  take  months." 

"  Months !  Why,  I'm  only  going  to  be  some 
weeks  here,"  exclaimed  Lisa. 

"  The  chief  thing  is  to  catch  a  good  likeness,  and 
this  can  be  done  before  you  go.  If  it  were  necessary, 
you  would  be  able  to  stay  a  week  longer." 

"  Not  easily,"  said  Lisa. 

"  It  can't  be  done,"  added  Frau  Rink,  who  accom- 
panied her  daughter. 

"  Oh,  it  could  if  I  wished  it,  hut  I  don't  wish  it," 
answered  Lisa.  "  I'm  beginning  to  long  for  my  art. 
You  '11  understand  that,  Herr  von  Strahl." 

"  Perfectly,  mein  Fraulein.  In  the  long  run  an 
idle  life  is  unbearable." 

"  I  can't  understand  your  work  being  attractive. 
You  're  always  alone  in  this  uncomfortable  room, 
standing  before  a  brown  lump  of  clay  tiying  to  shape 
it  into  form." 

"  It  depends  upon  what  is  being  shaped  out  of 
the  clay.  It's  the  case  of  the  chrysalis  and  the  but- 
terfly. At  times,  indeed  often,  it's  hard  work,  but 
so  is  life  itself.  The  artist  has  his  full  share  of  the 
universal  law." 

"  Are  you  a  Communist?  "  asked  Lisa,  looking  at 
him  with  her  large  eyes. 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  "  he  asked,  laughing. 

"  Because  you  speak  of  work  as  a  universal  law, 
and  I've  heard  that  Communists  require  every  one 
to  work  and  to  be  rewarded  for  it." 

"  Don't  be  afraid.  I'm  no  Communist  in  that 
sense.  Reward  comes  for  us  all  in  the  evening." 


THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  ISIDORO.      125 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  evening  ? "  asked 
Lisa,  always  catching  at  Franz'  last  word  without 
understanding  it. 

"  Eternity,"  he  answered  quietly. 

"  Oh,  that's  a  long  way  off.  I've  still  an  immense 
time  before  me.  We'll  talk  of  something  else.  Do 
you  like  sculpturing  men's  or  women's  heads  ?  " 

"  I  like  each  in  its  way." 

"  I  think  women's  heads  much  the  prettier,  Herr 
von  Strahl." 

"  You've  a  right  to  think  so.  We  talk  of  women 
as  the  fair  sex." 

"  Do  you  think  the  '  strong  sex '  is  as  true  a 
saying  ?  " 

"  Not  always." 

"  Neither  do  I,  for  any  one  who  is  strong  ought  to 
be  so  always.  Beauty  is  always  beauty." 

"  Beauty  is  a  gift  independent  of  the  possessor's 
will.  Strength  is  a  virtue  which  has  something  to 
say  to  will.  But  a  strong  will  may  be  shaken  and 
turned  aside  from  heavenly  things.  St.  Peter  de- 
nied his  Lord,  and  then  went  back  to  Him,  and 
was  crucified  upon  the  Janiculus." 

"  Do  you  really  believe  it  ? "  she  asked  incredu- 
lously. 

"  It's  a  very  ancient  tradition  in  the  Church — not 
an  article  of  faith." 

"  How  odd ! "  thought  Lisa  to  herself.  "  Every 
topic  which  I  try  with  him  gets  most  tiresomely 
serious.  He's  not  had  a  single  word  of  admiration 
.for  me." 

"  I  love  my  art  best  of  all,"  she   began  again. 


126      THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  1SIDORO. 

**  Now,  you  can  enthuse  only  the  few  artists  and 
connoisseurs  who  come  to  your  studio.  I  electrify 
an  audience  of  thousands.  Don't  you  think  I  am  to 
be  envied  ?  " 

a  An  actor's  art  is  a  passing  thing,  and  so  is  the 
applause  it  calls  forth.  It  makes  a  noise,  and  is 
over.  There  are  better  things." 

"  Are  there  ?     I'm  longing  to  hear  about  them." 

"  When  old  Giotto " 

"  Giotto?     Was  he  an  actor? " 

"  No,  he  was  a  Florentine  painter  of  the  fourteenth 
century.  When  he  finished  his  Madonna  with  the 
Holy  Infant,  the  people  of  Florence  poured  into  his 
studio  to  admire  it  with  all  reverence,  and  then  they 
carried  the  wonderful  picture  in  solemn  procession  to 
the  Church  of  Sta.  Maria  dei  Fiori,  where  it  has  re- 
mained till  this  day.  If  it  is  an  object  of  admiration, 
it  is  still  more  an  object  of  prayer.  Does  not  this 
power  of  art,  and  this  influence  which  it  has,  seem 
to  you  far  higher  than  gaining  the  applause  of  a 
mixed  crowd,  who  are  acted  upon  by  stage  flummery 
and  all  its  accompaniments,  painted  scenes,  footlights, 
and  tinsel  gold?" 

"  Certainly  not.  What  has  the  artist  for  him- 
self?" 

"  He  has  the  consciousness  of  having  worked  for 
the  glory  of  God." 

"  But,  Herr  von  Strahl,  "  said  Lisa,  bursting  out 
with  a  laugh,  "  I  can't  possibly  play  my  parts  for 
the  glory  of  God." 

"  That's  true  enough,  and  for  this  very  reason  I 
fail  to  see  that  your  calling  is  an  enviable  one,  even 


THE  HERMIT  OF  SANT  ISIDORO.      127 

if  it  should  call  forth  the  loudest  applause  from  all 
the  quarters  of  the  world." 

"  Well,  I  see  well  enough  what  your  '  better 
things '  are,  Herr  von  Strahl.  They're  much  too 
good  for  me,"  said  Lisa,  impatiently. 

u  Oh,  please  don't  move  your  lips.  It  spoils  the 
pretty  curve  of  the  mouth,"  exclaimed  Franz. 

This  single  word  appeased  Lisa,  whose  childish 
vanity  was  wounded.  Franz  closed  the  sitting  as 
rapidly  as  possible. 

"  For  the  future  I  shall  beg  the  Prince  to  come 
with  me,"  said  Lisa.  "  I  fear  that  your  serious  con- 
versation gives  me  an  expression  which  might  pre- 
vent people  from  recognizing  me.  I  should  be  so 
sorry." 

"So  should  I,"  said  Franz.  "I  shall  be  very 
pleased  if  you  will  provide  for  your  better  entertain- 
ment.*' 

"  Dear,  what  a  bore  that  marble  man  is  ! "  said  Lisa 
to  her  mother  in  the  carriage.  "  Fm  quite  weary  of 
the  business  already." 

u  Have  a  little  patience,  Lisi,  and  think  what  you 
must  be  to  have  your  bust  taken  in  marble  by  the 
Prince's  orders,"  said  Frau  Rink  with  an  air  of  im- 
portance. 

Lisa  appeared  at  the  next  sitting  with  a  crowd  of 
men.  Prince  Xaver  brought  with  him  some  English 
acquaintances,  and  together  they  kept  Lisa  amused 
in  her  own  way.  One  of  them,  a  Shropshire  baronet, 
to  show  he  set  store  by  the  Prince's  society,  ordered 
a  marble  St.  John  the  Baptist  of  Franz.  If  it  satis- 
fied him  he  promised  to  purchase  a  Holy  Child. 


128      THE  HERMIT  OP  SANT  IS1DORO. 

"  See  what  good  fortune  I  bring  you,"  said  Lisa  in 
high  good  temper. 

Franz  bowed,  and  one  of  the  Englishmen  said  : 
"  That's  what  the  Fairy  Queen  does  at  all  times  and 
in  all  places."  How  well,  thought  Lisa,  the  remark 
would  have  sounded  from  Franz. 

The  likeness  was  finished  and  a  great  success. 
Franz  was  not  sorry,  for  he  hardly  knew  his  grave, 
silent  studio  under  the  ordeal  of  noisy  sittings.  In 
college  days  his  companions  had  called  him  Achilles 
the  invulnerable.  Prince  Xaver  called  him  the  her- 
mit of  Sant'  Isidore,  and  declared  that  his  studio  was 
mysterious  enough  to  furnish  the  plot  for  a  novel. 
Franz  laughed,  without  committing  himself  to  an  an- 
swer, for  he  had  his  secret. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  ANGEL  OP  THE  RESURRECTION. 

FLORESTINE,  in  deep  mourning,  was  sitting  alone 
at  her  writing-table  in  her  town-house.  It  was  a 
bitter  February  day.  An  icy  north-westerly  wind 
was  blowing,  and  the  streets  were  deep  in  snow. 

Florestine  was  writing  a  letter.    She  said : 

"  MY  DEAR  FRANZ  : 

"  You  will  have  heard  from  your  mother  all  that  has 
befallen  me — trouble  upon  trouble.  My  father  dead ; 
my  Florestan  dead  ;  my  second  little  boy  dead  too, 
though,  thank  God,  he  lived  long  enough  to  be  bap- 
tized. All  this  has  happened  in  the  last  four  months. 
I  know,  of  course,  that  my  sorrows  are  not  specially 
heavy,  and  that  God  tries  other  souls  far  more.  My 
father  was  an  old  man,  and  he  died  holily,  as  he  had 
lived.  I  would  gladly  have  kept  both  my  father  and 
my  children  a  little  longer,  and  when  I  think  how 
different  things  were  this  time  last  year,  I  feel  very 
sad.  Now,  I  come  to  a  request,  dear  Franz,  and  I 
think  it  will  give  you  pleasure.  I  should  like  you 
to  do  me  an  Angel  of  the  Resurrection  in  marble  for 
our  vault  at  Cronenstein.  He  sat  at  the  Tomb  to 
speak  of  life,  and  that  is  what  he  will  do  for  us.  I 
9  129 


130    THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION. 

hope  you  like  my  thought,  and  will  set  about  exe- 
cuting it  as  soon  as  your  other  work  will  allow  you." 

Oswald  came  in  whilst  she  was  writing.  He  sat 
down  in  an  easy  chair  and  dipped  into  a  book  or  two 
on  the  table.  He  was  much  altered,  his  eye  weary 
and  restless,  his  face  pale  and  spiritless. 

"  Who  is  your  correspondent,  Flore  ?  "  he  asked  as 
she  laid  down  her  pen. 

"  Franz.  I  am  writing  about  our  plan,"  and  she 
handed  him  the  letter.  He  ran  his  eyes  over  it,  and 
added  at  the  bottom :  "  Make  the  Angel  of  the  Resur- 
rection like  Florestine.  She  is  my  angel. 

"  OSWALD." 

What  had  happened?  Florestine  did  not  know, 
though  it  was  the  talk  of  the  town.  At  Cronenstein 
she  had  noticed  a  change  in  Oswald,  and  had  re- 
marked it  to  her  aunt.  Some  overwhelming  attrac- 
tion seemed  to  tear  him  from  her  side.  The  restless- 
ness, contrariness  and  uncertainty  of  his  demeanor 
pointed  to  a  sharp  inward  struggle  of  some  kind. 
What  could  have  gained  so  tremendous  a  hold  over 
Oswald  ?  Her  anguish  was  so  great  that  it  seemed  to 
soften  her  grief  for  father  and  children.  That  was  a 
peaceful  sorrow.  She  mourned  to  herself  over 
their  departed  happiness,  for  unhappy  he  undoubtedly 
was.  Florestine  noticed  Oswald's  words  at  the  bot- 
tom of  her  letter. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Oswald?"  she  asked. 

"  I  mean  that  perhaps  you  may  be  able  to  savt 
me,"  he  said  brokenly. 


THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION.    131 

His  words  filled  her  with  alarm  and  yet  with  joy. 
She  sat  down  by  him,  took  his  hand  tenderly  in  her  own 
and  said :  "  Tell  me,  Oswald,  where  the  danger  is." 

He  paused  to  steady  his  voice  and  said  : 

"  We  must  begin  curtailing  our  expenses,  Flore. 
Seeheim  is  no  longer  mine ;  it  is  sold — or  rather,  it  is 
gone." 

"  (rone  ?  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Seeheim  represented  my  fortune.  I've  lost  it, 
and  am  a  pauper." 

"  Don't  forget  that  you  have  got  Cronenstein, 
Oswald.  But  what  have  you  been  doing  with  See- 
heim?" 

Oswald  sprang  up  in  his  agitation,  and  exclaimed : 

"  I  have  been  gambling  !  " 

"  Tell  me  everything,  dear  Oswald.  Oh,  I  am  so 
relieved  that  you  will  speak  !  " 

"  I  wish  I  had  spoken  sooner." 

"  So  do  I,  but  at  least  speak  now.  Two  are 
stronger  than  one." 

"  That's  my  hope.  I  will  tell  you  everything — 
but  will  you  still  care  for  me  the  same  ?  " 

"  Need  you  ask,  Oswald?  " 

"  I  must  go  back  a  long,  long  way  to  make  you 
understand  how  I  fell  into  this  wretched  plight. 
My  father  was  an  inveterate  gambler,  yet  he  did  not 
risk  either  fortune  or  reputation  by  it.  I  inherited 
his  propensity,  I  suppose,  but  not  his  calmer  tem- 
perament. Cards  were  my  greatest  delight,  and  at 
fourteen  I  preferred  them  to  sport  of  any  kind. 
They  put  everything  else  out  of  my  head.  Even 
while  I  was  at  the  Gymnasium,  I  had  already  won 


132    THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION. 

and  lost  rather  large  sums.  It  was  a  great  trouble 
to  my  mother ;  she  reproached  me,  both  tenderly 
and  sternly,  and  I  promised  to  give  up  gambling  be- 
cause it  worried  her.  I  did  not  do  so  thoroughly,  for 
I  could  not  or  would  not  see  that  gambling  is  wrong 
in  itself.  At  the  University  I  found  greater  oppor- 
tunities for  following  my  bent,  and  that  strengthened 
it.  Still  I  worked  well.  If  I  had  not  been  so  per- 
sistently unlucky,  my  mother  would  have  known 
nothing  about  it ;  as  it  was  I  sometimes  appealed  to 
her,  because  I  disliked  being  always  at  my  guardian, 
your  uncle,  Frankenhausen,  to  help  me  out  with  my 
gambling  debts.  He  was  very  fond  of  me  ;  but  my 
unfortunate  passion  grieved  him  as  much  as  it  did 
my  mother,  and  he  would  often  put  it  strongly  be- 
fore me  that  if  I  went  on  throwing  away  my  time 
and  my  money  I  should  impoverish  myself,  and  be- 
come enervated  mentally  and  physically,  a  useless, 
or  rather  worthless,  member  of  society.  I  protested 
firmly  against  this  prediction  and  called  what  was 
really  a  passion  by  the  name  of  engrossing  pursuit. 
"  I  came  of  age  when  I  was  twenty-one,  conse- 
quently into  my  fortune.  As  I  wished  to  continue 
my  studies  for  a  year  longer,  I  left  my  affairs  still  in 
my  guardian's  hands.  *  Only  give  up  those  wretched 
cards,'  he  would  say,  '  and  you  '11  be  perfect.'  My 
mother  spoke  in  the  same  strain.  I  spent  my  vacation 
that  year  at  different  Baths  on  the  Rhine,  played  furi- 
ously, and  with  fearful  ill-luck.  I  already  had  debts 
which  absorbed  more  than  one  year's  income,  and  I 
was  mad  to  cover  them  by  a  happy  turn  of  luck. 
I  went  to  Paris,  and  the  first  man  I  came  across  was 


THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION.    133 

a  fellow-countryman,  who  lived  by  gambling.  I 
did  not  know  it.  He  recognized  me  and  kept  me 
firmly  in  his  clutches.  Well,  instead  of  travelling 
for  a  year,  I  spent  it  gambling  in  Paris  !  I  became 
fully  aware  that  it  was  no  mere  pastime,  but  an  all- 
absorbing  passion.  I  saw  I  should  play  away  my 
last  farthing,  if  I  could  not  check  myself.  I  left 
Paris  and  went  to  Italy,  and  at  first  the  change  of 
scene  had  a  good  effect.  But  I  wanted  more.  I 
should  have  waged  war  to  the  knife  against  my  pas- 
sion, and  I  never  did  it.  Naples  was  a  second  Paris. 
I  lost  everything  in  six  months,  and  had  no  longer 
enough  to  live  upon.  I  can't  say  what  would  have 
happened  had  I  not  had  a  letter  from  Frankenhau- 
sen.  He  wrote  :  '  Be  a  man.  Come  back  at  once  ; 
put  Seeheim  and  all  your  affairs  into  my  hands,  re- 
duce your  expenses,  get  into  diplomacy,  and  in  six 
or  seven  years'  time  I  shall  hope  to  see  you  in  better 
plight.  But  come  home  at  once,  or  I  shall  leave  you 
to  your  fate.'  This  letter  gave  me  a  great  shock, 
and  I  did  return  on  the  spot.  The  dear  man  carried 
out  his  plan,  and  I  entered  diplomacy.  Being  only 
a  small  attache',  I  played  a  very  modest  role  in 
society,  and  this  was  a  capital  thing  for  me.  I  had 
fewer  temptations,  and  I  sobered  down.  I  found 
that  I  could  live  without  gambling,  and  the  knowl- 
edge increased  my  self-confidence.  I  resumed  going 
to  the  sacraments,  which  I  had  neglected  during 
those  miserable  years.  My  ambassadress  encouraged 
me  by  word  and  example.  I  owed  much  to  her,  for 
she  showed  me  what  religion  can  be  in  a  woman's 
life,  and  coming  in  contact  with  her  did  me  good. 


134    THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION. 

This  went  on  for  four  years.  Then  her  husband 
died  and  she  went  back  to  her  country-place.  I  be- 
came a  secretary  and  was  removed.  I  scarcely  re- 
membered my  former  madness  and  nothing  would 
induce  me  to  touch  a  card.  I  persevered  for  seven 
years,  and  that  excellent  Frankenhausen  set  my 
affairs  in  order,  and  saved  Seeheim  for  me.  I  had  a 
suitable  fortune  and  could  contemplate  marrying 
with  a  good  conscience.  Frankenhausen  was  very 
eager  for  our  marriage,  dearest  Flore,  and  you  know 
well  enough  whether  I  was  after  my  visit  to  Cro- 
nenstein.  Your  father  knew  of  my  former  misdeeds 
and  asked  me  about  them.  I  could  truthfully  say  I 
was  cured,  and  he  expressed  himself  satisfied.  He 
gave  me  his  word  never  to  mention  the  past  to  you. 
Last  summer  when  you  went  to  nurse  him  at  Cro- 
nenstein  I  remained  here  for  the  House.  My 
mother,  Amelia  Verden,  and  all  the  ladies  we  know 
were  away,  so  that  I  saw  only  men.  I  happened  to 
sit  down  one  day  at  a  table  to  watch  four  capital 
whist  players.  In  the  middle  of  the  rubber  one  of 
the  men  was  called  off  by  a  telegram.  He  thrust  his 
cards  into  my  hand,  saying  he  would  be  back  in 
half  an  hour.  Thus,  after  ten  years,  I  found  myself 
once  more  at  a  card-table,  by  a  mere  accident.  In  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  I  was  wholly  absorbed  in  the 
game,  and  unconscious  of  time.  The  man  did  not 
come  back,  and  the  other  three  were  mad  whist 
players,  so  there  we  sat  till  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  I  had  wonderful  luck,  and  the  stakes  were 
high.  I  was  invited  to  play  again  on  the  following 
evening  and  did  so,  and  in  this  way  my  long  sup- 


THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION.    135 

pressed  passion  burst  out  afresh.  I  tried  to  resist  it. 
I  went  to  Cronenstein.  After  a  few  days,  I  always 
grew  restless  and  depressed,  and  ended  by  breaking 
my  good  resolutions.  I  am  less  than  a  man,  Flore, 
when  the  demon  takes  me." 

"  Go  on,  Oswald,"  she  said.  "  You  haven't  told 
me  all." 

"  No,  indeed.  Well,  I  went  from  whist  to  games 
of  chance.  At  first  I  had  wonderful  luck,  then  per- 
sistently bad,  and  I  went  on  and  on,  till  I  was  ruined. 
The  long  and  the  short  of  it  is  that  I  have  played 
away  Seeheim,  and  have  lost  every  farthing  that  I 
possessed." 

"  Cronenstein  is  still  ours,"  said  Florestine,  "  and 
now  that  I  know  what  the  trouble  is,  I  feel  stronger 
and  more  hopeful." 

"  Dearest  Flore,  you  cannot  possibly  feel  any  con- 
fidence in  me." 

"I  can  indeed.  Did  you  not  overcome  your- 
self before?  But  tell  me  who  has  bought  See- 
heim?" 

"  Prince  Xaver.  It  seems  that  he  wishes  to  marry 
Lisa  Rink  morganatically,  and  to  dower  her  with 
Seeheim." 

"  Lisa  Rink.  .  .  .  Frau  von  Seeheim  !  " 

They  talked  over  many  things  connected  with 
their  changed  circumstances,  and  Florestine  was  as 
calm  and  natural  with  it  all  as  if  the  loss  of  fortune 
concerned  a  stranger,  not  her  husband.  She  assured 
him  that  they  could  live  very  comfortably  on  the 
Cronenstein  property,  without  always  spending  the 
winter  in  town.  She  was  so  calm  and  composed  that 


136    THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  RESURRECTION. 

Oswald  wondered  at  her.  At  last  he  said :  "  I  feel 
easier  now  that  you  know  everything." 

"  Then  you  must  promise  to  tell  me  faithfully 
when  the  weakness  is  upon  you." 

He  gave  her  his  word,  and  no  sooner  was  she  alone, 
than  the  tears,  which  she  had  kept  back  with  super- 
natural strength,  poured  down  her  cheeks.  Her 
natural  feelings  burst  forth  in  all  their  intensity,  as 
if  to  make  up  for  the  violence  she  had  done  to  them. 
For  months  past  she  had  been  tortured  by  anxiety, 
and  now  that  she  knew  all,  her  heart  seemed  break- 
ing. She  had  been  so  proud  of  Oswald,  and  he  had 
.•shattered  her  pride,  her  peace,  and  happiness.  "  Os- 
wald a  gambler ! "  she  murmured  brokenly,  as  she 
fell  on  her  knees.  "  God  help  us  1 " 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  DEO  SERVTRE  REGNARE  EST." 

"How  is  the  bust  getting  on?"  asked  a  tall, 
powerfully-built  man,  walking  into  Franz  von  Strahl's 
studio  one  day.  "  Will  it  soon  be  ready,  eh  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed,  Sir  Robert,"  answered  Franz  laugh- 
ing. "  You  give  me  so  many  interesting  bits  of  work 
to  do  that  I  cannot  get  through  them  all  quickly. 
Besides  delicate  marble  carving  requires  time." 

"  Of  course,  of  course.  I  put  no  pressure  on  you. 
Artists  have  their  peculiarities  and  go  their  own  way, 
and  they  do  wisely.  Every  one  should  have  a  way 
of  his  own." 

Franz  nodded  assent,  and  continued  to  work  at  his 
marble  statue  of  St.  John  the  Baptist. 

"  How  naturally  the  lamb's  wool  comes  out,"  went 
on  Sir  Robert  Balmond.  "  There's  no  mistake  about 
it,  Herr  von  Strahl,  you're  an  artist ;  not  only  in 
lamb's  wool,  but  in  every  way.  You  understand  me, 
don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  understand  that  you  are  very  kind,  Sir  Robert." 

"  That's  a  happy  way  of  putting  it.  But  I  wanted 
to  tell  you  that  my  Rosabel  can't  come  to-day.  The 
last  days  of  the  carnival  have  tired  her  out  and  given 
her  a  little  chill,  so  she  must  rest  herself." 

137 


138      "DEO  8ERVIRE  REGNARE  EST." 

u  Why  do  you  allow  your  delicate  daughter  to  in- 
dulge in  the  carnival  campaign,  Sir  Robert  ?  " 

"  Why  do  I  allow  her  ?  Why,  to  be  like  every  one 
else." 

"  That's  no  reason  for  the  man  who  has  his  own 
way  of  doing  things,"  said  Franz  laughing. 

"  Yes,  it  is,  for  the  man  who  doesn't  wish  to  be 
outlawed  from  society.  You  can't  judge  of  these 
matters  in  this  retired  studio  of  yours." 

"  There  you  may  be  right,"  answered  Franz 
quietly. 

u  That  is  to  say — don't  misunderstand  me,  Herr 
von  Strahl,  I  know  that  you  belong  to  a  good  family 
and  are  quite  at  home  in  society,  or  might  be  if  you 
liked — Prince  Xaver  told  me  so  last  autumn — but  I 
mean  to  say  that  you  can't  judge  men  and  women 
through  your  knowledge  of  marble  figures.  My  deal- 
ings are  with  people  in  purple  and  fine  linen ;  not 
with  St.  John  the  Baptist  in  his  lambs'  wool.  There's 
the  difference." 

"  I  quite  recognize  it,  Sir  Robert." 

"  Well,  it's  settled  that  I  am  to  go  to  England  in 
May  without  Lady  Balmond  or  Rosabel.  The  thick 
of  the  season  would  be  too  much  for  my  little  girl, 
and  yet  she  couldn't  keep  out  of  it  if  she  went.  So 
they  are  to  stay  here,  at  Frascati,  that's  to  say,  or 
somewhere  in  the  mountains.  They  go  to  Sorrento 
in  August  for  sea-bathing,  and  I  shall  meet  them 
again  in  October  to  spend  the  winter  here.  People 
talk  of  Rome  being  unsafe,  and  the  chances  of  war, 
but  I  feel  the  Holy  Father's  presence  a  certain 
security." 


"DEO  8ERVIRE  REGNARE  EST."      139 

"  And  if  it  comes  to  the  worst  we  can  all  die  with 
him  !  "  exclaimed  Franz. 

"  Die,  Herr  von  Strahl  ?  I  would  rather  live  with 
him." 

"  Well,  Sir  Robert,  we  are  all  living  as  it  is,  and  I 
myself  want  to  do  a  good  deal  before  I  leave  the 
world." 

"I  can  readily  believe  it.  At  your  age  a  man 
wants  to  enjoy  life  a  bit.  But  do  begin,  and  don't 
remain  the  hermit  of  Sant'  Isidore.  Come  to  our 
house.  The  racket  of  the  carnival  is  over,  and  we 
see  only  our  particular  friends — you  are  one  of  them. 
Rosabel  would  be  delighted  to  talk  art  with  you,  and 
Lady  Balmond  quite  appreciates  you." 

"  I  know  how  kind  you  and  Lady  Balmond  are, 
Sir  Robert,  and  I  value  your  goodness.  But  a  man 
can't  serve  two  masters — and  society  soon  becomes  a 
master." 

"  But  you  have  got  a  long  life  before  you  to 
work!" 

"  Who  can  tell  that,  Sir  Robert?  " 

"  Have  you  presentiments  ?  "  exclaimed  Sir  Rob- 
ert. "  Why,  there  you  are !  Hypochondria,  melan- 
choly, nervous  exhaustion." 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort ! "  interrupted  Franz.  "  I 
don't  know  how  to  be  dull — but  my  work  is  my 
life." 

"  Astonishing  young  man !  "  said  Sir  Robert  pen- 
sively. "  Allow  me  to  ask  you  a  question.  Would 
you  be  glad  to  come  into  a  fortune  before  long  ?  " 

*'  I  may  safely  answer  that  question.  I  shouldn't 
know  what  to  do  with  it." 


140      "DEO  SERVIRE  REGNARE  EST." 

"  So  you  are  moved  by  pure  love  of  your  art  ?  " 

"  Sir  Robert,  in  a  few  years'  time  when  your  or- 
ders for  Balmond  Castle  and  one  I  have  had  from 
home  to-day  are  all  quite  finished,  you  will  under- 
stand everything " 

"  Then  you'll  introduce  us  to  your  bride  ?  " 

"  To  my  bride  ?  "  repeated  Franz  in  surprise. 

«  Yes.     Why  not,  Herr  von  Strahl  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  bride  in  view,"  added  Franz,  with  grave 
determination. 

"  Extraordinary,  incomprehensible  youth  !  Well, 
go  your  own  way  in  the  matter.  Rosabel  will  come 
to-morrow." 

And  Rosabel  duly  appeared.  She  was  a  lovable 
creature  with  her  charm  of  fresh  unconsciousness 
and  simplicity,  which  was  as  morning  dew  on  the 
spring  flower.  She  had  been  excellently  brought  up 
by  her  mother,  and  had  left  the  Sacred  Heart  Con- 
vent in  Paris  only  a  few  months  previously.  In 
Rome  she  was  to  study  Italian,  and  perfect  herself  in 
painting. 

"  For  our  Rosabel  is  to  be  a  bit  of  perfection,"  her 
father  used  to  say.  "  Lady  Balmond  looks  after  her 
soul  and  everything  connected  with  heaven ;  and  I 
look  after  her  mind  and  her  relations  with  the 
world." 

Happily  for  Rosabel,  her  mother  knew  how  to  hold 
her  own  in  the  latter  point,  and  if  she  could  not  prevent 
Rosabel  from  being  taken  out,  she  controlled  gayeties 
which  would  have  seriously  interfered  with  studies. 
Rosabel  was  pleased  with  anything  her  father  and 
mother  wished.  Her  prettiness  received  an  addi- 


"DEO  8ERVIRE  REGNARE  EST."      141 

tional  charm  from  the  gold  setting  of  Sir  Robert's 
enormous  fortune.  Sir  Robert  was  so  delighted  with 
Lisa  Rink's  bust  that  he  wished  the  same  noble  art 
to  immortalize  his  Rosabel,  and  therefore  entrusted 
Franz  to  take  her  bust  also.  Sir  Robert  generally 
accompanied  her,  Lady  Balmond  occasionally  ;  both 
of  them  enjoyed  a  talk  with  Franz.  Rosabel  held  her 
tongue,  but  for  all  that  she  was  neither  absent  nor 
bored.  Her  face  showed  her  interest  in  the  conver- 
sation, especially  when  Franz  spoke.  To-day,  too, 
she  was  all  attention,  as  everything  he  said  seemed 
so  utterly  different  from  the  conversation  she  was 
wont  to  hear. 

"  You  won't  stay  all  the  summer  in  Rome,  Herr 
von  Strahl,  nor  be  here  for  the  fever  months,  will 
you  ?  "  asked  Sir  Robert. 

"  I  was  here  all  through  last  summer  except  for 
an  occasional  day  at  Porto  d'Anzio  or  elsewhere." 

"  You  oughtn't  to  play  so  fast  and  loose  with  your 
Teutonic  constitution.  Take  it  easy,  as  other  people 
do,  and  go  up  into  the  mountains." 

"  I've  no  pleasure  in  leaving  my  work  for  more 
than  a  day  or  two." 

"  Really  you  are  mad  about  work. " 

"  It  is  our  birthright.    It  will  make  or  unmake  us." 

"  How  so,  Herr  von  Strahl?  " 

"  The  Bible  calls  a  long  life  full  of  labor  a  pre- 
cious life.  The  world  thinks  a  long,  idle  life  pre- 
cious ;  consequently  God's  estimate  differs  from  that 
of  the  world." 

"  But  what's  my  life  in  the  sight  of  God  ?  "  asked 
Sir  Robert. 


142      "DEO  SERVIRE  REGNARE  EST." 

"  How  can  I  tell  ? "  replied  Franz  laughing. 
"  One  man  has  a  block  of  marble  before  him  from 
which  he  has  to  sculpture  the  crucifix ;  another 
sculptures  the  crucifix  in  his  own  heart.  Both  are 
hard,  and  perhaps  you  do  the  latter  much  more 
earnestly  than  I  the  former,  Sir  Robert." 

Rosabel  thought  to  herself  that  Franz  did  both, 
but  she  would  not  have  said  so  for  anything  in  the 
world.  Her  father  answered  heartily  : 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort,  Herr  von  Strahl.  Bob  Bal- 
mond  is  an  honest  fellow,  but  not  high  up  in  per- 
fection. You  are  bent  upon  the  seventh  heaven, 
whereas  I  shall  thank  God  if  I  escape  hell." 

"  It's  my  daily  prayer,  Sir  Robert,  that  I  may 
escape  hell.  The  world  is  an  evil  place,  and  only 
God  can  save  us  from  falling  into  temptation." 

"  O,  come,  the  world  is  not  so  bad  as  all  that. 
What  do  you  say,  Rosabel  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  enough  about  it,"  she  answered. 

"  I'm  not  talking  of  your  balls  and  gayeties,  Miss 
Balmond,"  went  on  Franz.  "  I  am  talking  of  world- 
liness  and  worldly  spirit  as  opposed  to  the  Christian. 
We  ought  to  be  glad  to  live  in  times  when  we  can 
prove  our  disinterested  love  for  the  Church  by  sacri- 
ficing fortune,  time,  and  life  itself  perhaps,  in  her 
service." 

"  Why,  my  dear  Herr  von  Strahl,  you  have  the 
makings  of  a  martyr,"  exclaimed  Sir  Robert  with 
great  warmth.  "  But  you  are  quite  right — it  is 
not  enough  in  our  days  to  be  a  Catholic  ;  one  needs 
to  be  a  good  Catholic,  fired  with  zeal  for  the  Church. 
And  now  a  light  is  dawning  upon  me  about  you — a 


"DEO  SERVIRE  REGNARE  EST."      143 

very  strong  light.  You  mean  to  become  a  Papal 
Zouave  as  soon  as  ever  there  is  war,  and  it  won't  be 
long  coming!  You  want  to  sacrifice  even  your 
beloved  art  to  this  holy  cause,  and  you  mean  to  work 
yourself  to  death  before  joining  the  Zouaves.  That's 
what  it  is  !  Well,  I  am  heartily  glad  of  it.  Perhaps 
my  two  boys  may  come  back  before  that  from  India, 
and  they,  too,  shall  enlist  for  the  Pope." 

"  Papa  dear,  don't  be  so  bent  on  war,"  interrupted 
Rosabel.  "  There  ought  to  be  some  good  men  left 
in  the  world." 

"  Perhaps  some  men  of  sacrifice  would  do  more 
for  it  than  a  few  good  men,  Miss  Rosabel,"  answered 
Franz.  "  Nothing  short  of  heroism  will  counteract 
the  materialism  of  the  age." 

"  Of  course,  of  course !  We  all  admire  a  St.  Fran- 
cis Xavier,  a  Vincent  of  Paul,  a  Benedict,  but  who 
can  imitate  their  deeds  ?  " 

"Only  God's  chosen  ones,  Sir  Robert.  But  we 
can  all  imitate  their  spirit,  whatever  our  work  in 
life  may  be.  Deo  servire  regnare  est." 

Sir  Robert  looked  down  demurely ;  Rosabel  was, 
as  usual,  silent,  so  there  followed  a  pause  which 
each  filled  up  with  his  own  thoughts.  Franz 
was  so  taken  up  with  his  work  that  he  did  not 
notice  it,  nor  did  Rosabel.  His  words  would  echo 
all  through  her  life,  and  she  had  never  felt  so  great 
a  desire  in  her  own  mind  to  see  him  at  her  father's 
house. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you,  Rosabel?  "  said  her 
father  all  at  once.  "  You  look  out  of  spirits,  and 
now  you're  blushing  furiously." 


144      "DEO  8ERVIRE  REG  N A  RE  EST." 

"  The  sitting  is  too  long  and  is  tiring  her,"  ex- 
claimed Franz. 

"  No,  indeed,  it's  not,  Herr  von  Strahl.  There  is 
nothing  the  matter  with  me,  papa,  dear,"  stammered 
Rosabel,  bewildered  and  startled  out  of  her 
thoughts. 

"  Don't  overtire  yourself,  my  dear  child.  We  will 
make  that  enough  for  to-day,  Herr  von  Strahl,  and 
will  come  back  to-morrow,"  and  Sir  Robert  rose  as 
he  spoke. 

Rosabel  was  obliged  to  do  the  same,  little  as  she 
wished  it,  and  Franz  was  once  more  alone  with  his 
marble  busts  and  his  thoughts. 

"  An  interesting  young  fellow,  isn't  he,  Rosabel  ?  " 
said  Sir  Robert  innocently  to  his  daughter.  "  It's 
difficult  to  say  whether  he  excels  most  as  an  artist 
or  as  a  man." 

Rosabel  was  quite  clear  on  the  point,  but  she  did 
not  venture  to  express  her  feelings,  and  Sir  Robert 
went  on  :  "A  young  man  with  so  much  sense  of  duty, 
so  much  religion  and  strength  of  purpose,  is  a  wonder. 
He  fills  me  with  amazement,  and  at  the  same  time 
I  like  him  as  if  he  were  nothing  out  of  the  common. 
There's  something  sterling  about  these  Germans 
when  they  are  good,  and  not  given  up  to  their  phil- 
osophy mania  .  .  .  He  goes  very  far,  certainly,  yet 
he  has  Christian  truth  on  his  side." 

"  Deo  aervire  regnare  est"  said  Rosabel,  as  if  to 
herself. 

"  There,  you  have  remembered  the  Latin ! "  ex- 
claimed Sir  Robert. 

"  Latin ! "    repeated    Rosabel,    embarrassed.     "  I 


"DEO  SERVIRE  REG  N A  RE  EST."      145 

thought   it  was    Italian  pronounced  in   a   German 
way." 

"  Italian  !  What  are  you  thinking  about  ?  Is  est 
Italian?  You  might  as  well  say  it  was  Chinese. 
You  must  give  more  attention  to  your  Italian,  Rosa- 
bel, and  you  might  occasionally  talk  German  with 
Herr  von  Strahl  for  practice." 

"  Not  for  anything,  papa,  dear.  I  really  cannot 
talk  his  mother-tongue  to  a  man  of  his  kind." 

"  A  man  of  his  kind,  Rosabel !  Why,  is  he 
the  Grand  Turk,  or  something  as  bad,  that  we 
mayn't  venture  to  speak  to  him?  You  talk  French 
quite  freely  with  other  men  who  are  in  a  better 
position  than  he  is." 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  Herr  von  Strahl  im- 
presses me,  and  other  men  don't,  unless  they  are  old 
and  venerable-looking,"  said  Rosabel.  "  He  has  a 
wonderfully  noble  face." 

"  Yes,  he's  a  gentleman  to  the  backbone." 

Rosabel  did  not  venture  on  further  disclosures,  but 
she  thought  to  herself  that  a  man  may  impress  youar; 
a  gentleman  without  being  the  least  what  Franz  was. 

Work  made  his  days  fly.  Easter  ushered  in  the 
most  lovely  spring  weather,  and  as  Rosabel  was  no 
longer  required  for  sittings,  Sir  Robert  thought  it 
time  to  settle  his  wife  and  daughter  at  some  place  in 
the  mountains.  They  finally  decided  on  Frascati, 
as  it  combines  many  advantages,  and  had  been 
already  chosen  by  two  English  families  amongst 
their  friends.  Sir  Robert  and  Lady  Balmond  so 
kindly  pressed  Franz  to  spend  at  least  Sundays  at 
Frascati  that  he  could  not  well  refuse. 
10 


146      "DEO  8ERVIRE  REG N ARE  EST." 

"  I  never  pressed  you  to  come  to  us  in  Rome," 
said  Lady  Balmond,  "  because  I  see  only  too  we.l 
how  little  you  care  for  society.  But  quiet,  green, 
fresh  Frascati,  will  do  you  good  and  delight  your 
artist  eye,  and  with  us  you  will  not  be  troubled  by 
the  world." 

"  I  should  be  glad  enough  to  go  to  Frascati,  too, 
and  to  leave  London  alone,"  said  Sir  Robert,  "  but 
it  won't  do  !  I  must  sacrifice  myself  to  the  season." 

Franz  laughed  incredulously. 

"  Do  you  hear,  Herr  von  Strahl  ?  "  he  repeated, 
emphatically.  "I  must  sacrifice  myself.  What 
would  people  think  if  not  one  of  the  Balmonds  were 
to  be  seen  ?  It  won't  do  to  risk  what  they  might 
think.  I  must  keep  a  warm  place  for  our  children 
in  our  best  society.  If  I  listened  to  my  inclinations, 
I  should  remain  with  my  wife  and  daughter,  but  the 
father  of  a  family  is  required  to  make  sacrifices, 
Herr  von  Strahl." 

It  was,  in  truth,  a  sort  of  sacrifice  to  good  Sir 
Robert,  as  he  was  devoted  to  Rosabel  and  her 
mother.  On  the  other  hand  he  would  not  have  run 
the  risk  of  losing  his  footing  amongst  his  own  class 
for  any  consideration.  He  started  as  soon  as  they 
were  comfortably  settled  at  Frascati.  Rosabel  went 
there  full  of  quiet  happiness.  She  was  to  have  her 
dearest  wish;  Franz  was  coming  to  her  father's 
house. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

DECEPTION. 

THE  Medizinalrath  Rabener  had  a  failing  which 
he  shared  with  many  other  men.  He  showed  the 
disagreeable  side  of  his  character  to  Ms  wife  as  to 
nobody  else,  and  was  much  less  pleasant  at  home 
than  abroad.  Frances'  small  fortune  was  in  his 
hands.  Her  prettiness,  the  mere  prettiness  of  youth, 
was  already  on  the  wane.  She  had  no  fascinating 
qualities,  for  she  no  longer  adored  him.  He  now 
seemed  to  her  perfectly  commonplace.  She  found 
life  irksome  and  monotonous  with  three  small  chil- 
dren and  her  housekeeping ;  it  was  a  new  and  en- 
larged edition  of  her  father's  house.  As  she  sat 
sewing  at  little  frocks,  she  would  often  put  down 
her  needle,  and  stare  in  front  of  her. 

"  This  is  what  I've  been  doing  since  I  left  school 
— since  I  was  thirteen,"  she  would  say  to  herself. 
'•*  When  I  used  to  sit  sewing  at  home,  and  to  look  out 
of  the  window  to  see  faces  I  knew  by  heart,  I  thought 
to  myself,  '  Patience  i  Sooner  or  later,  he  will  come 
to  release  poor  Franz  from  her  sewing.'  And  now 
he  has  been,  and  I  am  still  at  it.  Then  I  could  hope 
for  better  days  ;  now  I  have  nothing  to  hope." 

Frances  was  interrupted  in  her  discontented  mus- 
ings by  the  hasty  entrance  of  her  husband. 

147 


148  DECEPTION. 

"  If  only  you  wouldn't  sit  at  the  window,"  he  said 
crossly.  "  It  makes  a  man  afraid  of  coming  into  the 
house,  your  face  is  so  black." 

"  My  face  is  what  God  made  it,"  she  answered 
snappishly. 

"  You  made  its  peevish  expression.  There's  noth- 
ing on  earth  more  trying  than  the  face  of  a  woman 
who  is  always  dissatisfied." 

"  Of  course.  It's  a  reproach  to  her  husband,"  said 
Frances  icily. 

"  Not  at  all.  It  shows  a  discontented  character, 
and  that  in  married  life  is  unbearable." 

"Are  you  so  delightful  and  so  pleasant?"  said 
Frances  in  a  cutting  tone.  "  I'm  sorry  to  undeceive 
you.  Your  patients  may  find  you  so,  but  not  your 
wife." 

"  Because  she  has  the  failing  of  all  wives,"  said 
the  Medizinalrath  with  a  harsh  laugh,  as  he  opened 
the  door. 

"  What  is  the  failing  of  all  wives  ?  "  asked  Agatha, 
who  was  just  coming  in. 

"  Bad  temper !  "  he  answered  roughly,  and  went 
off. 

In  the  meantime  Florestine  was  going  the  round 
of  the  town,  seeking  ladies  who  would  consent  to 
visit  the  poor.  More  accepted  than  refused,  and  she 
returned  home  quite  delighted  to  the  Castle.  Oswald 
was  fond  of  being  at  Cronenstein,  and  Florestine  was 
happy  because  he  was,  though  never  out  of  anxiety 
on  his  account. 

Her  uncle,  Frankenhausen,  Oswald's  guardian  and 
fatherly  friend,  was  bitterly  grieved  at  the  catas- 


DECEPTION.  149 

trophe  which  had  ruined  the  fine  Lauingen  fortune. 
It  affected  him  particularly  because  Florestine's  mar- 
riage would  not  have  taken  place  had  he  not  held 
himself  responsible  for  Oswald's  improvement.  He 
had  loaded  Oswald  with  reproaches  and  set  before 
him  most  sternly  the  disgrace  of  his  conduct,  but,  if 
not  appeased,  he  was  at  least  disarmed  by  Oswald's 
humble  tone  and  manner. 

"  You  are  quite  right  in  calling  me  a  miserable 
fellow,"  he  said,  not  attempting  an  excuse.  "  I  have 
lost  all  respect  for  myself,  and  cannot  expect  others 
to  respect  me." 

"  Umph ! "  said  Frankenhausen,  who  was  angry  be- 
cause he  cared  so  much.  "  Don't  overdo  it.  You've 
some  points.  You've  paid  for  your  folly  with  the  Iocs 
of  your  whole  fortune.  You're  now  on  the  road 
of  amendment,  and  there  is  no  question  as  yet  of 
forfeiting  general  respect.  Still  the  whole  thing's 
incomprehensible, — absolutely  incomprehensible ! " 

"  Yes.     I  feel  just  the  same  in  cold  blood." 

"  But,  bother  it !  who  allows  wretched  cards  to  get 
his  blood  up  to  boiling  pitch  ?  It's  against  reason,' 
growled  Frankenhausen.  "  If  I  only  could  feel  sure 
of  you  now" 

"  You  may  be — quite.  I  have  suffered  so  much, 
and  made  poor  Florestine  so  unhappy,  that  I  should 
be  a  brute  to  begin  again." 

"  And,  besides,  you  must  think  of  your  finances, 
my  dear  fellow,"  added  Frankenhausen.  "  Your  for- 
tune has  disappeared  down  to  the  last  farthing — you 
are  living  on  Florestine's.  If  you  run  through  that, 
what's  to  become  of  you  ?  " 


150  DECEPTION. 

Florestine  dreaded  the  winter  for  her  husband's 
sake.  In  the  middle  of  October,  at  the  fall  of  the 
leaf,  when  the  evenings  were  getting  long,  and  the 
days  chilly,  the  three  were  alone  at  Cronenstein.  It 
was  quite  a  change.  Under  different  circumstances 
Florestine  would  have  enjoyed  it.  She  went  out 
riding  with  her  husband,  they  played  together,  and 
in  the  evenings  he  would  read  aloud  whilst  she  and 
her  aunt  worked.  But  now  she  could  not  get  rid  of 
the  fear  that  Oswald  found  it  dull.  She  knew  her 
husband  too  well  and  loved  him  too  dearly  not  to  be 
aware  of  the  smallest  cloud  on  his  face,  the  slightest 
gloom  in  his  mind,  and  she  was  not  mistaken ;  both 
cloud  and  gloom  were  there. 

All  Souls'  Day  and  its  peaceful  octave  were  over. 
They  had  kept  it  with  the  fervor  which  is  felt  over  a 
recently  closed  grave. 

"  My  happiness  is  buried  with  my  father,"  said 
Florestine  one  day  to  Frau  von  Strahl.  "  I  never 
wanted  him  more  than  now — Oswald  is  gone." 

"  Gone  ?  Where  can  he  be  ? "  asked  Frau  von 
Strahl,  pale  with  anxiety. 

"  Can  I  tell  you  ?  He  got  up  very  early  this  morn- 
ing, and  said  he  was  going  to  shoot,  but  he  did  not 
take  a  gun.  He  certainly  rode  to  the  station,  and 
yet  I  can  hardly  believe  it  is  that.  Oswald  promised 
to  tell  me  when  he  felt  it  coming  on." 

"  Poor  child !     Promises  can't  cope  with  passion." 

The  day  went  on.  Florestine  was  not  capable  of 
spending  five  minutes  at  the  same  occupation.  She 
fancied  she  heard  Oswald's  step  or  his  voice.  Then 
she  would  throw  herself  on  her  knees  before  the 


DECEPTION.  151 

crucifix  to  beg  God  for  light.  It  was  growing  dark 
when  her  door  opened  and  Oswald  walked  in. 
The  sudden  transition  from  deep  anxiety  to  joy  was 
too  much  for  her.  She  sank  back  half-fainting,  gasp- 
ing his  name  with  effort.  He  knelt  down  by  her, 
put  his  arms  round  her,  and  called  her  his  sweet 
Flore. 

"Not  that — Oswald,  only  not  that!"  she  said  in  a 
scarcely  audible  tone  as  she  laid  her  head  on  his 
shoulder. 

He  looked  heated,  over-excited,  and  tired  out. 

"  Where  have  you  been  ?  Don't  deceive  me — tell 
me  the  truth,"  said  Florestine,  when  she  was  a  little 
calmer. 

Oswald  sank  into  an  arm-chair,  and  pressed  both 
hands  to  his  burning  forehead.  "  Flore,  if  you  only 
knew  what  a  miserable  creature  I  am  you  would  have 
some  pity  on  me." 

Florestine  was  always  moved  by  this  broken  tone, 
and  she  answered  tenderly :  "  Yes,  dear  Oswald,  let 
me  share  your  trouble.  It  will  do  me  good.  Tell 
me  where  you  have  been.  You  look  tired." 

"  I  rode  to  the  station  and  missed  the  train  by  two 
minutes.  Then  I  rode  to  the  second  station,  but  the 
road  is  dreadfully  roundabout  over  the  hills.  My 
horse  was  tired  and  I  saw  I  could  not  manage  it,  so  I 
changed  my  plan.  It  was  Providence  or  my  angel 
guardian.  I  gave  my  horse  a  few  hours'  rest  at  a  vil- 
lage inn,  and  then  rode  back.  I  have  been  eleven 
hours  in  the  saddle." 

**  But,  Oswald,  where  did  you  mean  to  go  ?  what 
was  in  your  mind  ?  " 


152  DECEPTION. 

"  Going  to  town  for  a  night's  play,  and  I  meant  to 
get  back  to-morrow,"  said  Oswald,  excitedly. 

"  Thank  God  that  you  are  back  now  ! "  answered 
Florestine.  They  went  to  dinner,  and  no  more  was 
said  about  it.  A  gnawing  and  ceaseless  anxiety  took 
possession  of  Florestine.  If  he  stayed  out  riding 
longer  than  usual,  or  she  did  not  find  him  in  his  room, 
she  felt  as  if  a  dagger  were  piercing  her  through 
with  the  words,  "  He  is  gone ! "  ringing  in  her  ears. 
At  night  it  might  truly  be  said  of  her,  "  I  sleep,  but 
my  heart  watcheth."  Love  and  anxiety  for  him 
filled  her  dreams,  and  often  she  would  awake  and 
call  him  by  his  name  in  terrified  tones,  so  fearful  was 
she  of  losing  him  out  of  her  sight.  It  was,  as  she 
said,  keeping  constant  watch  on  the  brink  of  a  pre- 
cipice. 

Frau  von  Strahl  did  not  forget  that  Florestine  was 
the  daughter  of  an  exceedingly  delicate  mother, 
whose  weak  constitution  she  probably  inherited. 
She  feared  for  her  niece  the  wearing  anxiety  of  the 
last  year  and  a  half.  So  one  evening  when  they  were 
sitting  cozily  together,  and  the  wind  and  rain  were 
beating  against  the  windows,  she  said  : 

"  I  don't  see  why  you  need  stay  here  all  the  winter. 
Try  a  warm  climate  ;  it  would  be  so  good  for  Flores- 
tine." 

"  What  do  you  think,  Florette  ?  "  said  Oswald  in  a 
tone  of  voice  which  betrayed  his  pleasure  at  the  sug- 
gestion. 

Florestine  was  lying  on  the  sofa  after  a  ride  of  three 
hours  which  she  had  taken  with  her  husband  in  spite 
of  the  stormy  weather,  because  he  liked  having  her. 


DECEPTION.  153 

"  Let  us  go  by  all  means,  Oswald,  if  you  like  it, 
but  don't  go  on  my  account,"  she  said. 

"That's  right,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl  laughing. 
"  Neither  of  you  want  to  go  on  your  own  account. 
But  lose  no  time  in  starting.  Naples  is  not  reached 
in  a  day." 

"  Don't  let  us  go  to  Naples,"  said  Oswald  with 
determination. 

"  Where  then?"  asked  Florestine.  "  It's  for  you 
to  choose." 

"  To  Nice  and  its  orange  groves  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean." 

"  Well,  let  it  be  Nice  then ! "  said  Florestine  in 
her  cheerful  way.  Oswald  would  be  amused  and 
that  was  sufficient  for  her.  "  You  should  have 
spoken  before.  We  might  have  been  at  Nice  all  this 
time,"  she  went  on. 

"I  thought  you  would  not  care  about  going 
away." 

'*  Not  care  about  going  with  you,  if  you  care  about 
it,  and  to  the  dear  south,  too  ?  " 

"  Only  get  off  as  soon  as  you  can,"  said  Frau  von 
Strahl.  "  I  will  look  after  Cronenstein." 

They  could  not  prevail  upon  her  to  go  with  them, 
so  they  took  her  advice,  and  made  an  early  start  the 
following  week. 

"  Here's  an  instance  of  a  fine  lady's  changeable 
mind,"  said  Frances  Rabener,  in  her  sour  way,  to  her 
sisters.  "  In  August  she  moves  all  X.  to  join  her 
visiting  society,  and  in  November  she  throws  the 
whole  burden  of  it  upon  you,  goes  off  to  Italy,  and 
gives  no  further  thought  to  the  poor." 


154  DECEPTION. 

"You  are  wrong,  as  usual,"  answered  Agatha. 
"  She  is  putting  no  burden  upon  us.  She  has  under- 
taken the  accounts  and  made  them  over  to  the  Frau 
Majorin  for  the  time  of  her  absence,  and  she  has 
told  the  steward  to  pay  her  subscription  every 
month.  We  shall  have  everything  except  her  dear 
self." 

*'  The  Countess  has  kindly  promised  to  spend  a 
day  at  Zurich  to  look  up  poor  Teles,"  said  Frau 
Hellmut. 

"'Poor  Teles'  is  doing  extremely  well,"  said 
Frances.  "  I  can't  understand  why  you  won't  take 
my  husband's  word  for  it.  He  knows  it  from  a 
friend." 

"  Our  standard  of  doing  well  is  not  the  same  as 
yours,"  answered  Agatha. 

"  And  we  shall  never  believe  all  is  well  with  him 
as  long  as  he  doesn't  write  to  mother,"  added  Frau 
Hellmut. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  CAMALDOLESB  AND    DON   SERAFINO. 

ROSABEL  was  having  a  delightful  spring  at  lovely 
Frascati.  The  visitors  from  Rome  were  numerous. 
Franz  von  Strahl  came  regularly  every  Saturday 
evening  and  went  away  early  on  Monday  morning. 
The  Sunday  expeditions  were  by  far  the  pleasantest 
to  Rosabel.  The  sky  was  finer,  the  air  sweeter,  and 
the  coloring  more  brilliant ;  the  talk  specially  inter- 
esting. Was  it  God's  own  day  which  spread  its 
charm  over  the  green  hills  of  Frascati  ?  Rosabel 
imagined  so,  for  it  never  occurred  to  her  that  the 
charm  lay  in  Franz.  He  showed  her  no  particular 
attention.  He  talked  most  with  Lady  Balmond  or 
with  Lady  Blanche,  Rosabel's  nicest  friend.  Blanche 
spoke  German  rather  fluently,  and  Rosabel  would 
listen  quietly  when  she  and  Franz  von  Strahl  talked 
together. 

On  one  of  these  lovely  Sunday  mornings  all  the 
English  party  went  to  hear  Mass  at  the  Camaldolese 
convent,  a  solitude  in  a  green  valley.  It  was  just 
the  hermit  life  in  community  which  interested  them 
all,  and  Lady  Balmond  had  obtained  a  papal  dispen- 
sation to  visit  the  cloister  and  enter  the  enclosure. 
The  kind  Prior  had  invited  them  to  breakfast  after 
Mass.  During  Mass  the  monks  began  to  chant  the 

Little  Hours  in  choir,  a  simple,  grave  and  beautiful 

155 


156     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO. 

prayer,  which  fell  gratefully  upon  the  listeners'  ears 
and  hearts.  The  Prior  took  his  guests  into  the  en- 
closure with  its  two  rows  of  small,  white  houses, 
each  consisting  of  two  rooms,  and  constituting  the 
dwelling  of  one  solitary. 

"  What  a  calm  mind  must  be  required  to  find  peace 
here,"  said  Lady  Balmond  to  the  Prior. 

"  The  calm  mind  must  be  brought  in.  It  is  not 
made  here,"  he  answered.  "  You  see  how  few  we 
are,  only  twelve.  Formerly  it  was  different ;  but  in 
these  restless  days  contemplation  is  rare,  especially 
with  men.  It  is  commoner  in  women.  They  are  the 
*  doves  in  the  hollow  places  of  the  wall,'  " 

"  You  are  the  twelve  praying  apostles,"  said  Lady 
Dashville ;  "  your  life  is  one  long  sacrifice." 

"  Sometimes  one  act  of  sacrifice  is  heroic — but  a 
life  of  it ! "  said  Lady  Balmond. 

"  Deo  servire  regnare  est !  "  said  a  low  voice,  which 
no  one  heard  except  Franz.  He  noticed  that  it  was 
Rosabel's. 

"  What  would  you  say,  mamma,  if  Lionel  became 
a  Camaldolese  hermit  ? "  asked  Blanche  of  Lady 
Dashville. 

44 1  should  know  what  to  say ;  at  present  I  don't," 
laughed  Lady  Dashville. 

"  As  for  you,  Donna  Bianca,  you  certainly  must 
put  on  some  white  habit  or  other,"  said  the  Prior, 
playing  upon  her  name. 

"  I  fancy  that  my  mother  can  give  you  an  answer 
at  once  as  to  that  matter,  Father  Prior." 

"  I  can,  Blanche.  Your  little  soul  is  not  white 
enough  for  a  white  habit." 


CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.    157 

"  Amongst  all  these  girls,  Father,  you  will  not  find 
one  who  has  a  fancy  for  a  convent,"  said  Mrs.  Gran- 
ford. 

"  Not  I, — nor  I, — nor  I,"  cried  out  her  three 
daughters. 

"  And  certainly  not  I,"  said  Blanche. 

"  Much  less  I,"  added  Blanche's  cousin,  Viola. 

"  And  I  least  of  all,"  said  Rosabel. 

"  What  naughty,  worldly  children  !  And  we  shall 
scarcely  get  a  different  answer  from  our  young  men 
if  we  question  them.  What  do  you  say,  Charles 
Granford  ?  "  said  Lady  Dashville. 

"  I  echo  my  sister's  words." 

"  I  won't  ask  you,  William.  You're  too  young," 
she  said  to  her  own  son. 

"  O,  I  beg  your  pardon,  mother.  At  seventeen  a 
fellow  knows  what  he  is  made  for,  and  I  am  not  made 
for  religion." 

"  And  I  won't  ask  Herr  von  Strahl  either,"  went 
on  Lady  Dashville,  **  for  an  artist's  place  is  in  the 
world." 

Franz  laughed  as  he  bowed,  and  Lady  Dashville 
said  to  the  Prior, "  It's  time  we  released  you.  World- 
liness  is  catching." 

But  the  hospitable  Prior  insisted  on  their  break- 
fasting first.  Coffee,  bread,  and  strawberries  were 
set  before  them  by  the  lay  Brothers.  At  breakfast 
Franz  asked  Rosabel  whether  she  had  been  learning 
Latin  with  her  brothers.  All  eyes  were  turned  to 
Rosabel,  who  looked  confused. 

"  Our  girls  have  so  many  ornamental  things  to 
team,  and  so  many  talents  to  acquire  that  they  can- 


158     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  8ERAFINO. 

not  busy  themselves  with  the  classical  languages," 
said  Lady  Balmond.  "  Perhaps  they  do  in  Germany  ?  " 

"  O  dear,  no  ! "  exclaimed  Franz.  "  Girls  who 
are  in  our  position  are  taught  all  sorts  of  polite  ac- 
quirements and  arts  till  they  are  about  seventeen. 
Then  they  devote  themselves  to  music,  painting, 
languages,  according  to  their  tastes,  for  two  or  three 
years,  after  which  they  marry,  and  quietly  put  aside 
all  the  fine  things  which  have  cost  so  much  time, 
labor  and  money." 

"  In  the  olden  time  women  used  to  learn  Latin  be- 
cause it  is  the  language  of  the  Church,  so  as  to  join  in 
liturgical  prayers,"  said  the  Prior. 

"  Not  only  on  that  account,"  said  Charles  Gran 
ford.  "  In  our  old  Anglo-Saxon  convents,  which  ex- 
ercised so  enormous  and  learned  an  influence  during 
the  centuries  of  England's  conversion,  the  nuns  wrote 
and  versified  in  Latin.  The  language  of  the  Church 
was  also  that  of  all  learning.  Mary  Stuart  and 
Christina  of  Sweden  spoke  Latin  with  great  ease, 
and  even  Marie  Antoinette  at  fourteen  was  able  to 
make  a  short  Latin  speech." 

"  And  to  punish  these  three  queens  for  their 
learning,  two  of  them  lost  their  heads,  and  the  third 
her  kingdom,"  said  Blanche. 

"  Oh,  what  reasoning  !  "  exclaimed  Charles  Gran- 
ford. 

Rosabel,  nevertheless,  was  grateful  to  the  learned 
queens,  for  they  had  diverted  attention  from  Franz 
and  his  question  to  her.  Franz  did  not  forget  it. 
He  wondered  whether  she  grasped  the  meaning  of 
the  Latin  words  she  had  used.  The  party  broke  up 


CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.     159 

and  returned  to  Frascati.  In  the  evening  Blanche 
proposed  dancing  in  the  garden ;  *'  an  elf  dance  in 
the  moonshine  on  the  green." 

"We  mustn't  meddle  with  elves,"  said  Charles 
Granford. 

"  Indeed,  we  must,"  exclaimed  Blanche  eagerly. 
"  Your  sister  Helen,  who's  not  allowed  to  dance,  will 
kindly  help  my  mother  at  the  piano.  Then  we  shall 
be  just  eight  and  can  have  the  most  lovely  quadrilles, 
for  of  course  you  dance,  Herr  von  Strahl !  " 

"  With  elves,  yes,  certainly,  for  that's  an  honor 
which  an  ordinary  mortal  doesn't  get  every  day." 

"  And  it's  only  at  Frascati  that  an  elf-dance  is 
feasible,"  said  Lady  Dashville. 

The  villa,  which  she  shared  with  Lady  Balmond, 
was  outside  the  town,  and  surrounded  on  every  side 
by  a  garden.  Lady  Dashville  and  Helen  Granford 
readily  played  one  quadrille  after  the  other,  and  the 
elves  danced  with  mortals.  Mrs.  Granford  and  the 
Abb£  Denys,  William  Dashville's  tutor,  played  chess ; 
Lady  Balmond  read  and  took  an  occasional  turn  in 
the  garden  to  see  that  Rosabel  was  not  overdoing 
herself. 

At  last  the  piano  stopped.  Lady  Dashville  stood 
at  the  door  and  said :  "  Here's  midnight.  I  say  with 
Lady  Macbeth  '  to  bed,  to  bed.' "  They  separated  for 
the  night. 

In  all  the  noise  and  merriment  Franz  had  found  no 
opportunity  of  putting  his  question  to  Rosabel,  and 
now  he  would  have  to  wait  for  a  whole  week.  This 
set  him  thinking  more  than  usual,  and  with  unwonted 
interest,  of  Rosabel. 


160     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO. 

At  Frascati  they  were  much  occupied  with 
Franz.  The  artist  who  taught  Rosabel,  Blanche,  and 
Viola,  knew  him  well  as  a  most  active  member  of  St. 
Vincent's  Conference.  "  No  one  of  us  can  compete 
with  Don  Serafino,"  the  master  said.  "  He  is  ready 
to  leave  his  work  at  any  time  and  undertake  night- 
watching  if  only  a  poor  man  wants  him." 

"  Who  is  this  Don  Serafino  ?  "  asked  Viola. 

"  I  fancy  you  know  him  as  Don  Francesco,"  an- 
swered the  artist,  "  but  we  prefer  calling  him  Sera- 
fino. We  think  it  suits  him  best.*" 

"  We  do  not  adopt  the  Italian  custom  of  calling 
people  by  their  Christian  names,  signer,"  answered 
Blanche.  "  We  might  have  to  do  with  a  person  for 
years  without  arriving  at  his  Christian  name,  and  we 
don't  know  a  Don  Francesco  more  than  a  Don  Sera- 
fino." 

"  How  curious  ! "  said  the  artist. 

"  Of  course  you  mean  Herr  von  Strahl,  don't 
you  ?  "  asked  Rosabel. 

"  Of  course  I  do,  but  how  much  better  to  give 
him  his  Christian  name  as  we  do.  Francis  is  a  truly 
blessed  name." 

"  I  like  the  custom  of  Christian  names,"  said 
Blanche.  "  In  our  country  it  is  not  adopted,  perhaps 
because  patron  saints  are  given  up." 

"  What  made  you  guess  so  soon  that  the  signor 
was  speaking  of  Herr  von  Strahl  ? "  said  Viola  to 
Rosabel. 

"  Oh,  the  likeness  of  the  portrait." 

"  And  in  future  he  shall  be  Don  Serafino  amongst 
us,  shan't  he,  Rosabel  ?  " 


VAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.    16) 

"Only  don't  tell  him  that  I  praised  him,"  ex- 
claimed the  artist.  4<  He  would  be  angry  with 
me." 

"  Yet  artists  are  supposed  to  crave  for  praise," 
said  Blanche  lightly. 

"  Donna  Bianca  is  rather  naughty.  I  was  talking 
of  the  man  rather  than  the  artist.  However  I  will 
say  that  as  to  praise,  men  and  artists  are  pretty  much 
the  same." 

The  painting-master  came  on  Wednesday  and 
Saturday  mornings,  and  the  girls  usually  spent 
those  days  at  their  easels  in  their  studio.  This  art 
temple  was  closed  to  every  one  except  Lady  Bal- 
mond  and  Lady  Dashville.  The  following  Saturday 
morning  they  were  working  together  in  the  little 
room.  Mile.  Henrion,  Viola's  French  governess, 
was  present.  When  the  master  reproved  Viola  for 
giddiness,  she  seconded  him  by  expressive  signs  and 
nods.  All  at  once  they  heard  Lady  Balmond's  voice 
and  a  man's  step  approaching  the  door. 

"  Ecco,  Don  Serafino ! "  said  the  master  as  the 
door  opened,  and  Lady  Balmond  came  in  with  Franz. 
Lady  Balmond  brought  him  in  to  see  the  young 
artists  at  work,  but  he  assured  her  that  coloring  was 
not  his  line.  He  contented  himself  with  praising 
them,  even  Viola,  who  looked  triumphantly  at  both 
master  and  governess.  Blanche  was  copying  the 
dome  of  St.  Peter's  from  the  pine-woods  of  the  Villa 
Pamfili,  in  the  warm  coloring  of  evening. 

"  It  is  a  truly  Roman  picture,"  said  Lady  Bal- 
mond. "  Our  St.  Paul's  too  has  a  dome,  but  instead 

of  evergreen  oaks  and  pines  in  the  background,  there 
ii 


162     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO. 

are  grimy  chimney-pots  and  roofs ;  gray  fog  and 
smuttiness  instead  of  the  rosy  Italian  sky." 

They  made  an  expedition  the  next  day  to  Grotta 
Ferrata  through  the  villa  of  the  Propaganda.  As 
usual,  Mrs.  Granford  and  her  children  were  with 
them,  and  also  two  or  three  cousins  of  Lady  Dash- 
ville's  from  Malta.  They  were  a  larger  party  than 
ever,  and  bright  as  usual.  The  girls  in  their  white 
dresses  and  light  ribbons  were  the  nymphs  in  the 
green  shades  of  the  forest.  Their  mothers  were 
pleased  to  see  their  enjoyment,  and  only  Mile.  Hen- 
rion  shook  her  head  from  time  to  time  when  Viola 
indulged  in  too  loud  a  laugh.  Several  mules  with 
their  drivers  went  with  them,  in  case  they  were 
tired.  In  all  the  stir  and  movement  of  the  merry 
party,  Franz  could  well  venture  to  ask  Rosabel 
whether  she  understood  Latin. 

"  No,"  she  said,  in  the  shy  way  she  had  with  him. 

"  No  ?  "  he  repeated.  "  So  you  did  not  understand 
what  you  said  to  me  last  week  at  the  Camaldoli  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did,  perfectly.  Is  it  so  difficult  to  under- 
stand Deo  servire  regnare  est  ?  " 

"Has  it  struck  you  how  much  this  service  may 
require  of  us  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed.  High  perfection  is  not  won  with- 
out trouble." 

"  Say  without  sacrifice." 

"  Sacrifice ! "  exclaimed  Rosabel,  casting  a  fright- 
ened look  at  Franz. 

"  Yes,  sacrifice,"  he  said,  laughing.  "  No  way 
of  serving  God  without  sacrifice  has  yet  been  dis- 
covered." 


CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.     163 

A  feeling  of  intense  sadness  suddenly  arose  in 
Rosabel's  mind,  she  could  not  tell  why  or  wherefore. 
Franz  noticed  it,  and  said  cheerily : 

"  You  mustn't  bother  your  head  with  Latin,  Donna 
Rosabel ;  it  is  too  hard  work.  And  where  did  you 
get  Deo  servire  regnare  est  f  " 

"  From  you,"  answered  Rosabel,  who  had  regained 
her  composure. 

"  From  me  ?  "  he  asked,  surprised. 

"  You  said  it  one  day  last  winter  when  you  were 
talking  to  my  father  at  the  time  you  were  working 
at  my  bust,  and  from  your  saying  it  I  have  remem- 
bered it." 

"  From  my  saying  it  ?  "  he  repeated  slowly. 

"  Why,  yes !  "  answered  Rosabel,  half  laughing, 
yet  constrained,  as  she  looked  up  at  him. 

"  You  shouldn't  remember  my  idle  words  ! "  he 
exclaimed. 

"  Can  I  help  it  ?  "  she  asked  simply. 

"  Don  Serafino !  Don  Serafino,  you'll  make  an 
exception  to  your  rule,  won't  you  ? "  called  out 
Blanche. 

"  To  what  rule  ?  "  he  asked,  relieved  at  the  inter- 
ruption. 

"  To  that  most  highly  pedantic  rule  you  have  of 
going  back  to  Rome  early  on  Monday  morning, 
You  might  be  a  Camaldolese  hermit  by  the  way  you 
keep  it.  To-morrow  you  must  ride  with  us  to  Rocca 
di  Papa  and  Monte  Cavo.  My  cousins  can't  leave 
without  going  there.  Now,  you'll  come  with  us, 
won't  you  ?  " 

"I  should  be   delighted,  if  it  were  not  for  my 


164     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  8ERAFINO. 

pedantic  rule.  I  mustn't  make  more  Sundays  than 
there  are." 

"  You  really  are  dreadfully  wooden,"  exclaimed 
Blanche. 

"  A  man  must  practise  mortification.  Think  what  it 
is  to  decline  going  in  your  company  to  Monte  Cavo !  '* 

"  You're  laughing  at  us ;  but  you  won't  gain  me 
to  your  mortification-mania.  I  am  only  mortified 
when  I  can't  help  myself." 

They  all  arrived  in  excellent  spirits  at  Grotto 
Ferrata,  the  ancient  monastery  where  Greek  monks 
of  St.  Basil's  Rule  have  chanted  psalms  for  eighteen 
centuries.  Rosabel  was  the  only  exception  to  the 
general  gayety.  Her  talk  with  Franz  had  depressed 
her,  she  did  not  know  why. 

Franz  gave  them  a  surprise  the  following  Satur- 
day by  walking,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  into 
the  Frascati  studio  in  company  with  the  drawing- 
master.  Viola  danced  up  to  him  in  high  glee,  re- 
membering his  words  of  praise. 

"This  is  delightful,"  she  exclaimed.  "  You  are 
going  to  give  us  a  lesson." 

"  You  are  spoiling  your  daily  routine,"  said 
Blanche,  with  slight  sarcasm. 

Rosabel  said  nothing,  but  her  eyes  spoke. 

"  I  have  come  to  take  leave  of  Lady  Balmond," 
answered  Franz.  "  I  am  going  to-night  to  Carrara 
ai«er  blocks  of  marble,  and  have  only  just  time  to 
say  good-by  to  you  all." 

"  But  you  will  come  back  before  we  go  to  Sor- 
rento ?  "  asked  Blanche. 

"  Not  if  you  are  going  on  the  eighth  of  August,  as 


CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.     165 

you  intended.  That's  only  ten  days  now,  and  I  have 
business  in  Switzerland." 

"  How  sad !  "  exclaimed  Blanche.  "  You  are  go- 
ing to-day,  and  Mrs.  Granford  in  a  few  days.  Our 
last  days  at  Frascati  will  be  very  sad." 

"  Partings  always  are,"  said  the  master. 

"  O  signer,  you  make  me  quite  melancholy,"  said 
Viola. 

"  Auf  Wiedersehen,"  said  the  girls,  as  they  shook 
hands  with  Franz,  "  auf  Wiedersehen  in  November." 

Rosabel  did  as  the  others  did,  but  there  was  a 
deep  sadness  in  her  dark,  soft  eyes.  Franz  regained 
his  quiet  studio  once  more,  and  felt  that  a  crisis  in 
his  life  was  over. 

Two  months  passed  away.  One  morning  at  the 
end  of  October  Sir  Robert  Balmond  walked  in. 

"Here  I  am  again,  Herr  von  Strahl,  to  inspect 
your  proceedings,  and  to  see  whether  you've  been 
properly  diligent,"  he  exclaimed  in  a  friendly  tone. 

"  Your  orders  came  first,  Sir  Robert,  and  I  hope 
you  will  be  satisfied,"  answered  Franz  heartily, 
shaking  the  powerful  hand  Sir  Robert  held  out. 
Then  he  uncovered  Rosabel's  bust  and  the  statue  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist.  Two  works  of  art,  ideal  in 
conception  and  perfect  in  execution,  stood  out  in 
their  dazzling  marble  whiteness  before  Sir  Robert's 
astonished  eyes. 

"  My  own  Rosabel — what  a  dear  little  face  it  is  ! " 
he  exclaimed  delighted.  "  Is  she  really  so  pretty  as 
this?  The  marble  is  chiseled  as  if  it  were  a  lily 
leaf.  It  must  be  this  which  gives  her  an  angelic 
look,  isn't  it  ?  " 


166     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO. 

"  O,  no,  Sir  Robert.  I  cannot  add  to  your 
daughter's  beauty." 

"  And  that  little  St.  John,  too,  with  his  Agnus 
Dei  staff.  He  looks  as  if  he  were  far  more  knowing 
than  we  ordinary  mortals  concerning  things  in  gen- 
eral, and  still  what  a  child  he  is  with  his  curly  head. 
It'll  look  uncommonly  well  in  our  chapel.  But, 
Herr  von  Strahl,  I  want  to  speak  to  you." 

"  We  are  speaking  to  each  other,"  laughed  Franz. 

"  Yes,  but  I  mean  speaking  in  earnest  upon  a  mat- 
ter of  the  highest  importance.  I  shall  want  your 
undivided  attention." 

"  May  I  ask  you  to  go  up  there  ?  "  answered  Franz, 
pointing  to  the  narrow  corkscrew  staircase  which  led 
from  his  studio  to  his  room.  When  Sir  Robert 
reached  the  top,  he  sat  himself  down  on  a  straw 
chair,  and  said  earnestly : 

"  Now,  let's  have  a  good  talk,  and  get  to  the  bot- 
tom of  certain  matters." 

Franz  bowed  in  silence.  He  thought  Sir  Robert 
was  alluding  to  his  payment.  When,  however,  Sir 
Robert  started  the  conversation  with  the  abrupt 
question :  "  Do  you  care  for  my  Rosabel  ?  "  he  drew 
back,  and  replied  gravely, 

"  I  think  I  have  never  given  you  any  reason  for 
putting  me  this  question." 

"  You  never  gave  me  any,  certainly." 

"  Then  you  allude  to  some  one  else,  Sir  Robert  ?  " 

"  Sit  down  beside  me,  and  let  us  have  a  few  words 
in  confidence.  I  am  perfectly  open  with  you,  and  I 
hope  you  will  be  so  with  me." 

"  I  give  you  my  word  that  I  will,  Sir  Robert." 


CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.     167 

"  Very  well.  Now  listen  to  what  I've  got  to  say. 
Since  Lady  Balmond  has  been  at  Sorrento  she  has 
noticed  a  change  in  Rosabel — a  slight  depression — 
something  sad  and  strange,  which  is  unnatural  to 
her.  She  was  in  high  spirits  all  through  our  stay  at 
Frascati,  and  at  Sorrento  she  had  just  as  many  op- 
portunities for  pleasure  as  at  the  former  place. 
Lady  Balmond  has  noticed  this  change  from  that 
day  at  Frascati  when  you  suddenly  said  you  were 
going  to  Switzerland.  She  fancies  perhaps  that  you 
had  a  feeling  for  Rosabel,  and  went  away  on  pur- 
pose. My  Rosabel  has  a  right  to  make  one  of  the 
best  matches  in  England.  We  might  look  very  high, 
but  her  happiness  is  more  to  us  than  all  the  rest,  and 
we  feel  sure  it  would  be  safe  in  your  hands.  So  if 
you  and  Rosabel  are  of  one  mind,  we  will  not  oppose 
you.  If  Lady  Balmond  has  made  a  mistake,  we  will 
spend  the  winter  at  Nice  instead  of  in  Rome.  Now, 
what  do  you  say  to  it  ?  " 

"  Go  to  Nice,  Sir  Robert,"  answered  Franz  em- 
phatically. 

"  I  hope  that  I  have  expressed  myself  clearly, 
Herr  von  Strahl,  and  that  you  grasp  my  mean- 
ing." 

"  Perfectly,  and  I  can  only  repeat — go  to  Nice.'* 

"  So  there  is  nothing  between  you  and  my  daugh- 
ter?" 

"  Nothing  whatever,  Sir  Robert." 

"  And  have  Lady  Balmond's  instincts  deceived 
her?" 

Franz  was  silent. 

"  There's   something  puzzling  in  this   business,'* 


168     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  8ERAFINO. 

went  on  Sir  Robert.  u  Indeed,  to  begin  with,  it's 
puzzling  that  you,  as  an  artist  with  an  eye  to  the 
beautiful,  can  pass  over  Rosabel,  and  that  you're  not 
inclined  to  a  marriage  which  hundreds  of  young  men 
would  consider  a  most  extraordinary  bit  of  good 
fortune." 

"  Go  to  Nice,  Sir  Robert,"  repeated  Franz  in  the 
same  serious  tone. 

"  Yes,  Herr  von  Strahl,  I  will  go  to  Nice,  but  I 
should  like  to  know  what  you  have  to  say  !  Only 
speak  out !  You  must  surely  be  convinced  that  my 
great  love  for  my  daughter  and  my  deep  regard  for 
you  have  induced  me  to  say  what  I  have  just  been 
saying.  Now,  I  think,  I  can  lay  claim  to  your 
confidence." 

'*  So  you  can,  Sir  Robert.  I  will  not  prove  un- 
grateful. But  I  am  going  to  tell  you  something 
which  has  never  crossed  my  lips,  and  you  must  give 
me  your  word  of  honor  that  you  will  keep  it  a  dead 
secret." 

««  Of  course  I  will." 

**  And  you  will  make  no  exceptions,  not  even  for 
Lady  Balmond  or  Miss  Rosabel  ?  " 

"  No,  upon  my  honor." 

"  One  single  word  will  explain  everything  to  you, 
<5ir  Robert.  I  want  to  be  a  priest." 

Sir  Robert  jumped  up  from  his  chair. 

**  That's  all  I  have  to  say,"  laughed  Franz. 

"  That's  all  ?  So  you  want  to  be  a  priest  and  to 
up  your  splendid  talent  ?  " 

"  I  shall  get  more  than  I  give." 

"  But  if  you  want  to  be  a  priest,  why  in  the  world 


CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO.     169 

do  you  go  through  art  which  is  miles  out  of  your 
way  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  so." 

"  And  what  about  Rosabel,  Herr  von  Strahl  ?  " 

"  It's  too  delicate  a  matter  for  me  to  handle,  Sir 
Robert." 

The  baronet  rose  and  laid  his  hand  on  the  young 
man's  shoulder  :  "  I  am  heartily  sorry,  I  am  indeed, 
that  nothing  is  to  come  of  it.  We  go,  then,  to  Nice, 
and  God  only  knows  whether  we  shall  ever  meet 
again.  Whatever  Rosabel  feels,  she  will  be  pleased 
to  know  that  you  mean  to  be  a  priest." 

"  I  have  your  word  of  honor,  Sir  Robert,"  ex- 
claimed Franz.  "  You  will  not  betray  my  secret  to 
a  soul.  If  any  one  mentions  my  name,  you  must  say 
I  care  for  nothing  but  my  blocks  of  marble." 

"  I  shall  tell  Lady  Balmond  so  this  very  day,  and 
I  shall  add  '  we  must  go  to  Nice  ! '  She  will  take  the 
hint,  and  everything  will  be  squared.  Only  I  shall 
be  sorry  not  to  see  you  any  more." 

"  That  will  be  a  small  price  to  pay,"  said  Franz. 

"  And  what  will  become  of  my  beautiful  Holy 
Child?"  asked  Sir  Robert,  looking  wistfully  at  the 
plaster  model. 

"  That  will  be  executed  in  marble  for  Balmond 
Castle.  I  shall  finish  all  the  work  I  have  under- 
taken. I  dread  parting  from  my  blocks  of  marble." 

"  I  shall  never  forget  you,"  said  Sir  Robert  as  he 
took  leave.  "  I  am  sorry  that  things  have  turned 
out  as  they  have,  you  being  what  you  are." 

"  I  am  not  what  you  think,  Sir  Robert,"  said  Franz 
gently. 


170     CAMALDOLESE  AND  DON  SERAFINO. 

Thus  they  parted.  Sir  Robert  joined  the  little 
English  colony  at  Sorrento,  and  Rosabel  heard  no 
more  of  Franz  von  Strahl  except  that  he  was  in  love 
with  his  blocks  of  marble.  Rosabel's  father  and 
mother  were  full  of  Nice  and  the  sick  ambassadress, 
one  of  Lady  Balmond's  sisters,  who  had  been  ordered 
there.  Lady  Dashville  made  up  her  mind  to  a  win- 
ter at  Seville,  as  her  son  Lionel  was  quartered  at 
Gibraltar. 

"  Roman  days  are  over,"  wrote  Rosabel  in  her 
journal. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

NICE  has  no  Vesuvius  nor  blue  Capri,  but  it  is  not 
without  a  beauty  of  its  own.  Oswald  and  Florestine 
occupied  a  house  in  the  suburb  called  Croix  de 
Marbre.  Only  a  road  separates  its  orange  and  rose 
gardens  from  the  Mediterranean,  and  their  sweet 
fragrance  is  wafted  on  the  fresh  sea  breeze.  They 
both  enjoyed  exploring  the  neighborhood,  either  on 
foot  or  on  horseback.  Oswald  met  old  acquaintances, 
and  through  them  made  new  ones,  and  they  were 
soon  in  the  full  tide  of  society  doings. 

As  they  came  home  from  a  ball  on  Shrove  Tuesday 
Florestine  uttered  an  exclamation  of  relief. 

"How  glad  I  am  the  gayety  is  over,"  she  said. 
"  We've  got  Memento  homo  before  us  now  ;  no  more 
bouquets  or  decorations." 

'*  Yes  '  unto  dust,'  a  pleasant  reminder  of  our  end 
— at  least,  the  end  of  this  wretched  earthly  existence 
in  which  we  are  all  doing  just  what  we  wish  not  to  do." 

His  words  grated  painfully  on  her  heart. 

"  You  are  tired,  dear  Oswald.  If  you  were  your- 
self, you  would  not  speak  so." 

"  I  mightn't  say  it,  but  I  should  think  it." 

"  Have  you  been  playing,  Oswald  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  No,  I  haven't.  I  have  not  had  time,  what  with 
171 


172  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

concerts,  theatricals,  water  and  riding  parties. 
That's  all  over  for  the  present.  Lent  and  dulness 
are  staring  me  in  the  face." 

"  Let  us  go  on  somewhere  else,"  said  Flore  eagerly. 
"  Let  us  go  to  Rome  or  Spain  or  Sicily — to  any  place 
you  fancy." 

"  No,  it  would  be  no  good." 

"  Then  let  us  go  home,  Oswald." 

"  It  would  be  the  same  thing  at  Cronenstein  or  the 
capital.  I  should  have  nothing  to  take  me  out  of 
myself." 

This  was  Oswald's  mind  at  the  beginning  of  Lent. 
A  few  days  afterwards,  as  they  were  breakfasting 
together,  he  said  with  a  touch  of  constraint :  "  I  tell 
you  everything,  Flore,  so  I  must  tell  you  that  I 
have  found  a  resource  for  myself." 

"  Have  you  ?  What  is  it  ?  " 

"Whist.  I  have  discovered  two  capital  players 
in  two  Russian  generals,  and  we  play  every  day. 
There's  no  better  game  than  whist ;  it's  positively 
intellectual." 

"  Only  don't  forget  that  you  began  with  whist  two 
years  ago,  Oswald.  If  only  you  would  not  play  high, 
for  that's  as  bad  as  games  of  chance.  You  may  lose 
or  gain  a  fortune  in  a  single  evening." 

"  Russians  don't  play  low,  and  besides  it's  impos- 
sible to  feel  interest  in  a  game  when  only  forty  or 
fifty  francs  are  staked." 

"  Oh,  Oswald,  that  can't  be  right.  The  player's 
interest  in  the  game  becomes  gambling.  If  whist  is 
really  so  good  a  game,  why  can't  it  be  played  for 
nothing,  as  chess  is  ?  " 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  173 

"  Simply  because  it's  not  customary,"  answered 
Oswald  irritably  ;  '*  but  don't  be  alarmed.  I  shall 
take  more  care  of  your  money  than  I  did  of  my 
own." 

Florestine  kept  silence  in  the  grief  of  her  heart. 
It  was  soon  known  at  Nice  that  Count  Lauingen  was 
playing  and  losing  heavily.  Florestine  feared  it,  but 
dared  not  question  him.  He  evaded  her,  and  left 
her  more  and  more  to  herself.  She  did  not  care  to 
go  out  without  Oswald  ;  she  had  no  intimate  friends, 
and  was  consequently  quite  alone. 

"  What  senseless  people  there  are  in  this  world,  to 
be  sure,"  said  Sir  Robert  Balmond  one  day  to  his 
wife.  "  Here's  a  German  count  ruining  himself  at 
cards,  and  for  the  third  time  too.  Twice  he's  been 
saved  by  the  hair  of  his  head." 

"  Has  he  a  family  ? "  asked  Lady  Balmond  sym- 
pathetically. 

"  He  has  a  wife.    She  is  living  close  to  us  here." 

"  O,  are  they  our  neighbors  ? "  exclaimed  Rosa- 
bel. "  The  wife  is  always  alone  now  when  I  see 
her  in  the  garden ;  her  husband  used  to  be  with 
her." 

"  Poor  thing,  what  a  terrible  position  for  her !  " 
said  Lady  Balmond. 

She,  too,  was  living  a  very  quiet  life.  Her  sister, 
Lady  Vivian,  was  not  well  enough  to  go  into  society, 
and  Rosabel  did  not  care  about  it.  Lady  Balmond 
had  always  found  parties  her  heaviest  tax.  Rosa- 
bel seemed  to  prefer  her  occupations  to  gayety,  in 
fact,  too  much  to  please  Lady  Vivian. 

"  Rosabel  is  a  very  dear  child,"  she  said.     "  But 


174  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

if  she  indulges  in  her  liking  for  solitude,  and  has  to 
live  in  high  society  when  she  marries,  she  will  be 
unhappy." 

"  Don't  be  anxious  about  her.  I  hope  Rosabel 
will  marry  for  love,  and  not  be  too  miserable  over 
her  married  duties." 

"  Now  that  Lionel  Dashville  has  become  Earl  oi 
Glenarvon  through  his  uncle's  death,  he  would  make 
a  very  suitable  match  for  Rosabel,  don't  you  think 
so?" 

"  Marriages  are  made  in  heaven,  the  proverb  says," 
answered  Lady  Balmond  laughing. 

"  True,  but  we  mortals  may  be  allowed  to  lay 
things  before  heaven,  and  this  seems  to  me  not  a  bad 
thing,"  said  Lady  Vivian. 

Others,  too,  seemed  inclined  to  bring  it  before  the 
notice  of  Providence,  for  a  telegram  from  Marseilles 
interrupted  the  sisters  at  their  talk,  and  announced 
the  coming  arrival  of  Lady  Dashville  and  all  her 
family  at  Nice  on  their  way  from  Gibraltar  to  London. 

"  I  wish  indeed  that  Glenarvon  could  find  favor 
with  Rosabel,"  Sir  Robert  remarked.  "Nothing 
would  make  me  happier." 

Rosabel  was  as  pleased  as  the  rest,  but  she  was 
thinking  only  of  Blanche  and  Viola.  Lady  Dash- 
ville arrived  the  next  day  and  the  two  parties  soon 
made  one. 

"  It's  as  lovely  here  as  at  Frascati,"  said  Viola, 
when,  after  a  ride,  they  had  all  gone  with  Sir  Robert 
to  Cimies. 

"  Only  Don  Serafino  is  wanting,"  said  Blanche. 

"We  have  your  brother  Glenarvon,  instead   of 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  175 

him,"  replied  Rosabel.  Yet  friendly  as  she  was  to 
Blanche  and  Viola,  she  was  cool  to  Lord  Glenarvon. 
He  rather  liked  it.  He  was  neither  a  brilliant  nor 
an  interesting  young  man,  but  sensible  and  right- 
minded.  He  knew  that  a  host  of  young  ladies  would 
be  ready  enough  to  become  Countess  of  Glenarvon, 
so  Rosabel's  perfect  indifference  was  a  pleasing  con- 
trast, which  predisposed  him  the  more  in  her  favor. 
His  mother  asked  him  one  day  how  he  liked  Rosa- 
bel. He  answered: 

"The  question  is,  mother,  how  does  she  like 
me?" 

The  young  people  would  often  be  in  the  garden  of 
an  evening,  when  the  moon  was  shining  on  the  sea, 
and  Blanche  and  Viola  would  sing  Spanish  songs,  or 
play  the  guitar  in  the  Spanish  fashion,  which  they 
had  learned  at  Seville.  In  the  next  garden,  sep- 
arated from  theirs  by  a  myrtle  and  laurel  hedge,  they 
could  see  a  lady — the  gambler's  wife,  they  called  her 
— wandering  about  alone  for  hours.  In  life  joy  and 
sorrow  are  side  by  side.  Florestine  had  broken  her 
painful  news  to  Frau  von  Strahl,  begging  her  aunt 
to  let  her  uncle  Frankenhausen  be  told,  so  that  he 
might  advise  her  what  to  do,  or,  if  possible,  come  to 
Nice.  Frau  von  Strahl's  answer  was  a  further  grief. 
Frankenhausen  was  lying  dangerously  ill  and  scarcely 
expected  to  recover. 

"  There's  no  human  help  for  me,"  sighed  Flores- 
tine. For  five  weeks  Lauingen  had  hardly  left  the 
card-table,  and  when  he  did  appear  at  home  she  could 
get  no  satisfaction.  Florestine  had  repeatedly  asked 
him  what  was  engrossing  him. 


176  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

"  Combinations  which  may  arise,  and  which  are 
hugely  interesting,"  he  answered,  and  turned  to 
other  things. 

Once  he  came  in  to  her,  beaming  with  delight. 

"  Flore,  dear,"  he  exclaimed,  "  this  morning  I  won 
6,000  francs." 

"  And  how  much  had  you  lost  up  to  this  morning, 
Oswald  ?  "  she  asked  sorrowfully. 

"  Rather  more,  certainly,  but  in  such  a  case  one 
cannot  afford  to  be  discouraged,  and  I  must  play  my- 
self back  to  good  luck." 

"  Now,  do  be  contented  with  the  luck  you've  had, 
and  stop." 

"  My  dear  Flore,  my  luck's  only  just  beginning  to 
turn,  and  I  must  profit  by  it." 

"  O  Oswald,  not  now,  not  during  Holy  Week. 
You  have  your  Easter  communion  to  think  about." 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  think  about  it,  but  I 
went  to  the  sacraments  at  Christmas." 

"  The  Easter  communion  is  binding,  you  know, 
dear  Oswald." 

"  Of  course.  I  have  not  the  slightest  intention  of 
shirking  it,  only  I  must  put  it  off  till  next  week.  It 
would  be  folly  not  to  follow  up  my  luck  now." 

"  You  are  following  your  ruin,  Oswald,  and  making 
us  both  utterly  wretched." 

He  turned  away  from  her  pleading  face,  and  said 
in  a  constrained  tone  :  "  I  should  be  unjust  to  you  if 
I  were  to  do  what  you  wish.  I  have  lost  very  heavily, 
and  now  that  I  have  taken  a  lucky  turn,  I  must  re- 
coup myself.  As  soon  as  I  have  done  that  we  will 
start,  and  I  will  give  you  my  word  of  honor  never  to 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  177 

gamble  again.     I  have  never  done  it  yet,  Flore,  but 
I  will  then." 

"  Do  it  at  once,  Oswald,"  she  pleaded.  "  Never 
mind  if  Cronenstein  is  gone.  Only  promise  me  to 
give  it  up ;  promise  God  the  sacrifice  for  Holy  Week." 

"  I  will  give  you  my  word  in  a  week,  Flore." 

"  This  putting  off  will  be  your  ruin,  Oswald." 

"  My  darling  Flore,  calm  yourself.  You're  shakan 
to  pieces." 

"  How  should  I  not  be  ?  You  can  put  an  end  to 
my  agony  with  one  word,  a  single  little  word. 
Won't  you  say  it?" 

She  stretched  out  her  hands  to  him  in  entreaty. 
She  shed  no  tears,  but  the  sight  of  her  wordless  sor- 
row was  more  touching  than  violent  weeping. 
Oswald  was  in  the  greatest  agitation.  He  did  not 
mean  to  give  his  word,  strll  Florestine's  grief 
tortured  him,  for  she  echoed  the  voice  of  conscience. 
She  had  fallen  on  her  knees  in  her  pleading.  As  he 
lifted  her  up  hastily,  he  said:  "Let  us  come  to 
terms,  my  darling.  I  will  not  touch  a  card  this 
week.  Afterwards  I  must  have  just  one  more  try, 
and  then  I  will  go  to  rny  Easter  duties,  and  give  up 
cards  forever  and  ever." 

So  it  was  settled.  Oswald  spent  the  week  in  a 
very  painful  frame  of  mind  between  conscience  and 
passion.  Florestine  suffered  cruelly  ;  she  feared  the 
coldness  of  distrust  which  would  make  her  incapable 
of  winning  him  back.  Her  Holy  Week  was  parsed 
in  bitter  desolation  and  anguish. 

On  Easter  Monday  the  governor  of  Nice  gave 
visitors  a  magnificent  farewell  entertainment. 

13 


178  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

wald  and  Florestine  went  to  it.  He  vanished  im- 
mediately to  seek  out  the  card-tables,  and  sat  down 
to  whist. 

"  Who  is  that  tall,  pretty  woman  with  the  oleander 
sprig  and  diamond  pins  in  her  dark  hair  ? "  asked 
Lady  Balmond  of  an  English  lady. 

"A  German  countess,"  was  the  answer.  "In 
society  she  is  called  the  gambler's  wife." 

Sir  Robert  Balmond  had  persuaded  his  wife  and 
daughter  to  go  to  this  entertainment.  Lady  Dash- 
ville  and  Blanche  wanted  to  enjoy  a  view  of  the 
elegant  world  at  Nice,  but  they  made  the  condition 
that  Rosabel  and  her  mother  should  share  the  pleas- 
ure with  them.  It  was  their  first  and  last  bit  of 
gayety.  Rosabel  watched  her  mother  as  she  pointed 
out  the  object  of  her  inquiry.  Florestine  was  stand- 
ing quite  near  and  just  opposite  to  her,  so  that  Rosa- 
bel had  a  good  view  of  her  face. 

"  Why,  she  is  the  original  of  the  beautiful  bust  we 
so  often  admired  at  Herr  von  Strahl's  in  Rome,"  she 
said  to  her  mother. 

"  You  are  right.  At  least  there's  a  remarkable 
likeness,"  answered  Lady  Balmond. 

"  It  was  the  bust  of  his  cousin,  whom  he  spoke  of 
so  eagerly  and  with  so  much  admiration,"  said  Rosa- 
bel. "  He  called  her  Countess  Lauingen." 

tc  That's  it,"  exclaimed  the  English  lady.  "  She  is 
Countess  Lauingen,  but  I  had  forgotten  her  name 
because  she  is  known  generally  by  that  other  title." 

"  So  young  and  pretty  and  so  unfortunate,"  said 
Rosabel,  full  of  sympathy. 

"And  how   strangely   romantic   it  is   that   they 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  179 

should  be  devoted  to  each  other.  He  adores  her  and 
she  is  wrapt  up  in  him,  and  yet  he  is  making  her 
most  wretched  and  ruining  her." 

"  Dear  mamma,"  said  Rosabel,  "  wouldn't  you  like 
to  be  introduced  to  Countess  Lauingen  ?  I  am  sure 
she  would  be  delighted  to  hear  that  we  knew  Herr 
yon  Strahl." 

"  We  shall  be  here  only  a  fortnight  longer,  dear 
uhild.  It's  not  worth  making  any  new  acquain- 
tances," answered  Lady  Balmond,  who  did  not  care 
for  Rosabel  to  be  in  any  way  reminded  of  Franz. 

Florestine  hid  her  sadness  from  the  world  with 
heroic  self-command.  Whilst  she  talked,  joked,  and 
danced,  Oswald  was  never  out  of  her  mind.  "  Is  he 
winning  or  losing?  "  she  wondered  to  herself.  "  Is 
he  playing  very  high?  Can  a  fortune  be  lost  at 
whist,  and  if  so,  what  will  happen  ?  What  will  he 
do  next?" 

What  she  would  do  did  not  strike  her. 

"  Is  Count  Lauingen  quite  invisible  this  evening  ?  " 
said  a  Polish  lady  to  Florestine.  "  If  he  avoids  the 
ball-room,  he  ought  to  see  the  garden  illuminated. 
Come,  we  will  rescue  him  from  the  Russians." 

She  took  Florestine's  arm  and  led  her  through  the 
suite  of  rooms  to  the  card-players.  They  looked  serious 
and  absorbed,  uttering  no  word  except  what  the  game 
required.  Florestine  need  not  have  feared  causing  a 
disturbance.  No  one  noticed  her;  neither  would 
Oswald,  unless  the  Polish  lady  had  attracted  his  at- 
tention by  saying :  "  We  mean  to  put  a  stop  to  your 
game,  Count.  It's  a  shame  to  be  shut  up  here  when 
there's  a  fairy  garden  outside." 


180  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

Oswald  looked  up  with  the  absent,  dazed  expres- 
sion of  one  who  sees  indeed,  but  who  does  not  grasp 
what  he  sees,  because  his  mind  is  completely  fasci- 
nated and  absorbed  by  some  other  matter.  He 
bowed  slightly  to  the  Polish  lady,  cast  a  hasty  glance 
at  the  second  lady,  recognized  his  wife,  smiled 
with  his  lips,  and  then  went  on  playing  as  if  he  were 
stone-deaf.  The  Pole  thus  repulsed  was  at  a  loss  to 
know  how  to  treat  so  cool  a  reception.  But  poor 
Florestine  pressed  her  hand  on  her  heart  and  re- 
marked to  one  of  the  Russians, 

"  And  don't  you  care  to  see  the  gardens  either, 
general  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  Frau  Grafin.  We  shall  have  done  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  and  then  we  shall  not  fail  to 
contemplate  these  wonderful  gardens,"  answered  the 
general  in  a  very  abrupt  tone. 

"  I  should  suffocate  physically  and  morally  in  this 
atmosphere,"  exclaimed  the  Polish  lady.  As  she 
drew  Florestine  away  she  felt  the  poor  wife's  hand 
trembling  on  her  arm.  When  they  had  got  out  she 
said  to  Florestine :  "  If  my  husband  had  been  there, 
I  should  have  knocked  down  the  piles  of  money,  and 
then  dragged  him  off  in  the  commotion." 

"  And  what  would  you  have  gained  by  dragging 
away  his  person,  if  you  could  not  drag  away  his 
will  ? "  replied  Florestine.  "  You  would  have 
humbled  him  before  every  one  without  curing  him." 

At  last  the  party  came  to  an  end.  The  fairy 
garden  was  deserted,  the  candles  were  burning  very 
low.  Florestine  could  not  make  up  her  mind  to 
leave  without  her  husband,  and  he  was  still  at  the 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  181 

whist-table.  Happily  the  lady  of  the  house  lost 
patience.  She  went  into  the  card-room  and  said 
courteously :  "  I  wish  you  good-night,  gentlemen,  and 
good-morning,  for  it  will  soon  be  broad  daylight." 

Florestine  was  thankful  when  she  found  herself 
driving  home  with  her  husband.  Lauingen  was  very 
much  put  out  and  said  not  a  word.  As  he  con- 
tinued in  the  same  state  the  following  morning 
Florestine  asked  him  lovingly  whether  anything 
disagreeable  had  happened. 

"Why,  of  course,"  he  answered  gloomily.  "I 
have  lost  enormously,  and  just  as  I  was  going  to 
win  we  were  sent  off.  It's  unbearable." 

"  It  was  four  o'clock,  Oswald,  dear,  and  you  had 
been  nearly  six  hours  at  the  whist-table." 

"  What  if  I  had  been  sixteen  or  sixty,"  he  inter- 
rupted her  harshly.  "  I  must  win  back  my  money." 
He  banged  out  of  the  room  and  the  house.  Flo- 
restine went  to  Mass.  At  the  foot  of  the  altar  her 
breaking  heart  found  a  little  rest. 

"  Take  everything,  take  every  hope  of  earthly 
happiness,  only  save  his  soul,"  this  was  her  ardent 
prayer  to  God.  She  had  settled  to  go  to  Cannes 
with  the  Polish  lady  to  see  a  friend  of  theirs.  Be- 
fore she  set  out  to  fetch  the  Pole,  she  received  a 
note  from  her  husband,  saying  that  he  could  not  be 
back  to  dinner. 

She  went  to  Cannes,  where  she  was  induced  to 
dine,  and  reached  Nice  pretty  late  in  the  evening. 
Great  was  her  consternation  to  find  a  second  note 
from  her  husband  on  the  table.  Both  hand  and 
heart  trembled  as  she  broke  it  open  and  read*. 


182  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

*'  DEAB  FLORE  : 

"I  have  left  to  carry  out  my  intention  undis- 
turbed ;  that  is,  to  follow  up  my  luck.  Do  not 
be  the  least  anxious.  In  a  week  at  the  latest  I  shall 
be  with  you  again,  and  then  we  will  start  for  home. 
Do  not  be  angry  with  me  for  this  short  absence,  and 
believe  me  your  fondly  devoted, 

"  OSWALD." 

She  sank  down,  crushed,  and  stunned  in  all  her 
faculties.  She  was  only  conscious  of  a  heavy  load 
which  seemed  to  be  gradually  pressing  her  to  the 
earth.  Thus  she  lay  for  two  hours.  Was  time  going 
on  or  standing  still?  She  did  not  know;  she  saw 
the  servant  bringing  in  the  tea-tray  as  if  through  a 
mist.  Then  her  maid  came  in,  and  that  she  should 
do  so  unsummoned  was  something  quite  out  of  the 
common.  It  made  her  ask  eagerly,  "  What  has  hap- 
pened ?  Has  he  come  ?  " 

"  It  is  two  hours  past  midnight,"  answered  the  maid 
with  constraint. 

"  O,  is  it  ?  Then  I  must  go  to  bed,"  said  Flores- 
tine  in  a  dreary  tone. 

She  allowed  herself  to  be  undressed,  and  lay  down, 
but  sleep  did  not  come  to  her  weary  eyes.  When 
she  closed  her  eyelids,  she  roused  herself  with  a  start 
exclaiming :  "  Where  are  you,  Oswald — oh !  where 
are  you  ?  "  Finally  sleep  came  to  her. 

The  next  morning  her  energy  had  revived,  and 
she  rapidly  made  up  her  mind  to  telegraph  to  her 
uncle  Frankenhausen.  She  said:  "We  are  being 
ruined  here.  Come  or  send  one  of  your  sons." 

"  If  only  my  uncle  be  not  dying,  he  will  come," 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  183 

she  thought  to  herself,  and  it  was  her  comfort  during 
the  long  week  in  which  every  minute  seemed  to  her 
leaden.  She  did  not  see  any  one  ;  she  was  not  well, 
so  people  were  told,  and  with  good  reason,  and  be- 
sides all  the  world  was  leaving  Nice,  her  acquaint- 
ances amongst  the  rest. 

Nice  became  empty.  But  Lady  Vivian  was  to 
stay  through  May,  whilst  Lady  Dashville  had  already 
gone,  for  in  answer  to  some  little  thing  Blanche  had 
said  about  her  brother  Rosabel  had  replied  that  she 
did  not  wish  to  marry.  Lady  Dashville  knew  too 
well  the  small  importance  of  a  similar  speech  from  a 
young  girl.  "  The  dreams  of  eighteen  are  like  the 
morning  mist,"  she  said,  laughing,  to  Lady  Balmond. 
"  They  must  be  allowed  to  evaporate.  Perhaps  in  a 
year,  certainly  in  two  years'  time,  Rosabel  will  think 
differently,  so  we  will  leave  now,  not  to  seem  too 
persistent  and — we  will  wait." 

Lady  Balmond  pressed  her  friend's  hand  tenderly. 
She  much  desired  Rosabel's  marriage  to  so  thoroughly 
good  a  man  as  Lord  Glenarvon,  and  was  glad  that 
her  answer  had  not  pained  him.  They  parted  there- 
fore very  amicably  to  meet  soon  again  in  London. 
Only  Sir  Robert  was  vexed  and  began  to  be  bored  by 
Nice,  from  whence  he  made  expeditions  to  Monaco, 
Cannes,  and  Hye"res.  On  his  return  from  Monaco  he 
said  to  his  daughter :  "  Now  you  may  bemoan  the 
fate  of  our  neighbor,  *  the  gambler's  wife,'  in  real 
earnest,  Rosabel.  He  is  sitting  at  the  gambling- 
tables  at  Monaco,  ruined,  a  picture  of  despair." 

"And  she  is  here,  looking  whiter  and  sadder  every 
day,"  exclaimed  Rosabel.  "  I  wonder  whether  she 


184  THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE. 

knows  where  he  is.  I'm  sure  she  would  go  and  fetch 
him  if  she  did,  wouldn't  she,  Papa  ?  " 

"  How  can  I  think  anything  about  it,  when  I  don't 
know  her?" 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  did,  poor  thing,  with  her  striking, 
beautiful  face.  Of  course  she  would  like  to  know 
where  her  unfortunate  husband  is." 

"  Don't  mix  yourself  up  in  things  which  don't  con- 
cern you,"  said  Sir  Robert. 

Rosabel  was  silent ;  but  she  secretly  wrote  a  short 
note  in  German,  and  therefore  somewhat  awkwardly 
worded,  and  sent  it  to  Florestine. 

It  was  the  sixth  day  since  Oswald's  departure 
that  Florestine  heard  a  familiar  voice  and  a  powerful 
step  at  the  door.  It  opened,  and  in  walked  Frank- 
enhausen.  She  flew  up  to  him. 

"  Here  you  are  yourself,  thank  God ! "  she  ex- 
claimed, kissing  him  affectionately. 

"  My  poor  child,  your  news  would  have  raised  a 
dead  man,  and  I  was  not  quite  that.  But  where  is 
he?" 

"  Do  you  think  I  know  ?  "  she  said,  bursting  into 
tears.  "  Perhaps  in  Paris,  perhaps  at  Naples.  Oh, 
if  I  only  knew  where  he  was,  I  should  not  be  here. 
I  should  have  gone  after  him  at  once,  but  I  am  abso- 
lutely in  the  dark." 

A  servant  came  in  with  Rosabel's  note.     It  ran : 

"  You  look  so  sad,  gnadige  Grafin,  quite  different 
from  your  beautiful  bust  in  Rome.  It  makes  me  so 
sorry !  I  see  you  every  day  walking  in  the  garden 
and  crying.  Are  you  sad  because  you  miss  your 


THE  GAMBLER'S  WIFE.  185 

husband  ?  I  am  able  to  tell  you  that  my  father  saw 
him  yesterday  at  Monaco.  My  father  is  Sir  Robert 
Ealmond  and  I,  gnadige  Grafin,  am  yours  very  truly, 

"ROSABEL   B." 

"  This  is  a  real  messenger  from  heaven ! "  ex- 
claimed Florestine  with  uplifted  hands. 

"  Well,  I  shall  go  at  once  to  Monaco,"  said  Frank- 
enhausen.  "  I  will  bring  him  back  to  you,  and 
then  you  must  leave  at  once,  my  poor,  darling 
child." 

"  Yes,  let  us  go,  dear  uncle,  but  where  with  him  ? 
Where  is  he  safe  from  himself  ?  "  exclaimed  Flores- 
tine in  a  tone  so  heart-rending  that  the  old  man 
turned  hastily  away,  for  he  could  not  keep  back  his 
tears. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  VILLA  PAISIBLE. 

IT  was  one  of  those  warm  October  mornings 
which  are  so  delightful  on  the  Lake  of  Geneva.  A 
man  deep  in  thought  was  walking  along  the  road 
running  from  Vevay  to  Montreux  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountains.  He  came  at  last  to  a  thick  cluster  of 
chestnut  trees  hiding  a  wicker-gate,  on  which  was 
written :  "  La  Villa  Paisible."  There  he  was  over- 
taken by  a  girl  with  a  large  basket  of  grapes. 

"  Good-morning,  Jeanneton,"  he  answered,  return- 
ing her  greeting,  for  they  seemed  to  know  each 
other.  "  Yo  Ve  a  heavy  basket  to  carry." 

"  No,"  she  said,  "  it's  not  heavy,  but  it  must  be 
hard  work  getting  through  all  the  grapes,  however 
sweet  they  may  be,  and  I  always  feel  sorry  for  her 
ladyship,  who  has  to  do  it." 

"  But  as  a  medicine  the  grape  cure  is  easy  enough, 
Jeanneton." 

"  Perhaps,  sir ;  but  medicine  is  medicine.  No- 
body likes  it,  and  I'm  heartily  sorry  that  her  lady- 
ship has  to  take  it." 

"  So  am  I,  Jeanneton,"  said  the  man,  as  he  passed 
on  and  the  wicker-gate  opened  to  admit  the  girl. 
The  gravel-path  led  up  to  a  small  house  in  the  Ital- 
ian style,  surrounded  by  evergreens.  The  autumn 

186 


THE  VILLA  PAISIBLE.  18? 

stillness  hung  over  the  little  domain,  and  made  Jean- 
neton  exclaim  involuntarily :  "  How  dead  alive !  " 
She  set  down  her  basket  on  the  kitchen  table,  saying 
to  the  cook :  "  You  seem  to  have  got  the  right  sort 
of  people  at  the  peaceful  villa.  They  don't  speak  at 
all,  do  they?" 

"  I  never  served  such  masters,"  answered  the 
cook. 

"  But  it's  not  very  lively  here,  Madelon,  is  it  ? 
You  might  really  forget  how  to  talk  ? "  queried 
Jeanneton. 

"  Oh,  there's  no  fear  of  that !  "  said  Madelon,  as 
she  took  the  grapes  out  of  the  basket  and  put  them 
on  a  glass  dish  between  vine  leaves.  This  was  con- 
yeyed  by  a  maid  to  the  dining-room,  where  breakfast 
was  laid  for  three. 

The  solitary  tourist  was  Telesphor  Herzog.  He 
had  finished,  or  rather  given  up,  his  studies.  He 
had  been  obliged  to  leave  Zurich  in  consequence  of 
a  duel,  and  now  he  was  further  hampered  by  a  chest 
affection.  He  had  gone  to  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  little 
dreaming  to  meet  Florestine  there.  She  had  pitched 
her  tent  at  the  Villa  Paisible,  where  they  were  liv- 
ing as  economically  as  possible.  Cronenstein  was 
heavily  mortgaged,  and  would  have  been  lost  had 
not  Frankenhausen  again  rescued  Oswald  from  de- 
struction. He  was  found  at  the  Monaco  gambling- 
tables,  and  conveyed  back  to  Nice  by  sheer  force. 

Oswald  decided  on  Geneva  as  a  residence,  but  at 
the  end  of  a  year  it  proved  too  expensive,  and  they 
found  the  Villa  Paisible.  Florestine's  health  had 
become  affected  at  Geneva,  and  although  she  made 


188  THE  VILLA  PAISIBLE. 

light  of  her  cough,  the  grape  cure  was  prescribed, 
and  she  was  advised  to  stay  on  the  sheltered  side  of 
the  Lake.  They  took  the  Villa  Paisible  for  three 
years,  and  with  the  prospect,  at  least  for  a  time,  of 
a  fixed  home,  Oswald  proposed  inviting  Frau  von 
Strahl  to  join  them.  Amelia  Verden,  with  a  grown- 
up daughter,  accompanied  her  aunt  from  Germany, 
stayed  several  weeks  on  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  and 
did  her  best  to  bring  them  a  breath  of  the  world. 
She  was  full  of  news,  and  told  them  amongst  other 
things  that  Lisa  Rink  had  not  yet  become  Frau  von 
Seeheim  ;  that,  in  fact,  Prince  Xaver  was  inclined  to 
play  her  false,  adding,  "  but  he  won't  have  energy 
enough." 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  Lauingen.  "  He  has  no 
will  whatever,  and  she  has  set  her  mind  011  having 
her  way.  She  holds  the  winning  cards,  and  one  day 
or  other  she  will  be  Frau  von  Seeheim  as  sure  as 
fate." 

"Lauingen  amazes  me,  Aunt  Augusta,"  Amelia 
would  sometimes  say  to  Frau  von  Strahl.  "  The 
contrast  between  his  sayings  and  his  doings  takes  my 
breath  away.  To  hear  him  he  might  be  wisdom  it- 
self. I  feel  as  if  he  were  a  quiet  maniac,  who  might 
burst  out  at  any  moment  and  kill  us  all." 

"  He's  too  poor  now,"  answered  Frau  von  Strahl, 
"  and  in  one  way  I  am  thankful  for  his  loss  of  fortune. 
He  is  obliged  to  submit  to  control,  but  it  is  grievous 
for  Flore." 

"  What  a  blessing  it  is  that  Flore  wishes  so  much 
for  spiritual  progress !  She  cares  for  nothing  else  in 
the  world." 


THE  VILLA  PAISIBLE.  189 

"  Still  she  is  human,  Amelia  dear,  and  she  must 
feel  her  present  life  of  sacrifice.  She  will  hardly  al- 
low it,  yet  as  I  am  very  human,  I  can't  help  seeing  it." 

"  If  you  are  human,  what  am  I,  Aunt  Augusta  9 
It  would  make  me  melancholy  to  think,  and  melan- 
choly I  don't  intend  to  be." 

Neither  did  she.  She  was  always  organizing 
parties,  whether  by  steamer,  boat  or  railway.  One 
day  they  met  Telesphor  Herzog  at  the  famous  Castle 
of  Chillon,  and  Florestine  greeted  him  with  special 
kindness.  When  she  heard  he  was  staying  on  at 
Vevay  for  his  health,  she  begged  him  to  come  every 
day  to  the  Villa  Paisible.  He  accepted  without  in- 
tending to  comply.  However,  when  Amelia  Verden 
left  they  were  a  very  small  party,  and  Lauingen 
was  not  sorry  to  have  some  one  to  fall  back  upon, 
though  he  did  not  particularly  care  for  Telesphor. 
So  it  came  about  that  Telesphor  often  found  his  way 
to  the  Villa  Paisible.  The  late  afternoon  was  Lau- 
ingen's  hour  for  being  at  home.  Rowing  on  the 
Lake  and  learning  how  to  manage  the  sails  amused 
him.  Florestine  called  them  his  *'  nautical  studies." 
She  spent  the  whole  day  alone  with  Frau  von  Strahl, 
happy  in  Oswald's  happiness.  As  for  the  grape  cure, 
she  submitted  to  it  merely  out  of  compliance  for  his 
sake. 

"  Florette,"  he  said  one  day,  "  you  must  come  out 
with  me  on  the  Lake ;  I  am  quite  knowing  about 
sails." 

"I  prefer  oars  to  sails,"  she  answered. 

"  You  must  trust  yourself  to  me  for  once.  We 
will  wait  for  a  favorable  wind,  and  go  over  to  St. 


190  THE  VILLA   PAISIBLK 

Gingolph.  You  will  come  too,  Aunt  Augusta,  and 
you,  Dr.  Herzog  ?  " 

"  Yes,  on  condition  you  take  a  good  steersman  and 
some  one  to  support  him." 

"  Are  you  so  anxious  as  all  that  ?  "  asked  Oswald. 

"  I,  for  one,  own  that  I  have  a  great  fear  of  sudden 
death,"  said  Florestine. 

"  I  long  for  it,"  exclaimed  Telesphor.  "  A  lin- 
gering death  is  what  I  dread." 

"  That's  something  different  again.  I  meant  only 
to  say  that  I  should  like  to  be  well  prepared  for  my 
last  hour." 

"  Why,  gnadige  Frau  ?     Your  life  is  a  preparation." 

"  It  is  in  a  way ;  yet  that,  too,  is  a  matter  of  great 
perfection." 

"  It's  impossible  for  you  to  agree  in  your  discus- 
sion," interrupted  Frau  von  Strahl.  "  You  differ  on 
first  principles,  so  there  can  be  no  common  ground 
between  you." 

"  Except  under  our  roof,"  said  Florestine,  turning 
to  him  with  a  kind  smile. 

"  Or  in  my  boat,"  added  Lauingen. 

They  discussed  a  sail  across  the  Lake  to  the  Meil- 
lerie  rocks  on  the  Savoy  side,  and  Telesphor  wanted 
to  go  with  them.  But  the  weather  changed  in  the 
night  and  became  very  stormy,  putting  a  sail  out  of 
the  question.  As  soon  as  outdoor  exercise  failed 
Oswald,  he  grew  moody  and  depressed. 

"  Flore,  I'm  almost  done  for,"  he  said  once,  as  he 
grasped  her  hand. 

"  O,  no ! "  she  answered,  secretly  dismayed. 
"  Keep  up  your  courage  till  All  Souls'  Day ;  then  all 


THE  VILLA  PAISIBLE.  191 

will  be  well.     Do  you  remember  coming  to  Cronen- 
stein  seven  years  ago  at  All  Souls'  time  ?  " 

He  was  touched.    "  You  are  right,"  he  said.    "  God 
will  help  us." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

ALL   SOULS'    DAY. 

TELESPHOR  HEEZOG  had  never  made  amends  to 
his  mother  for  the  bitter  disappointment  he  had 
caused  her,  nor  had  he  even  gratified  her  longing  to 
Bee  him,  and  now  he  heard  of  her  death.  All  was 
over  between  them.  It  was  with  a  very  heavy  heart 
that  he  sought  out  Florestine,  and  yet  her  words  of 
heavenly  hope  and  comfort  fell  upon  deaf  ears. 

"  Why  do  you  speak  this  language  to  me  ? "  he 
asked  her  coldly.  "  It  is  an  unknown  tongue." 

"  I  can  speak  no  other  language  to  those  I  care  for. 
It  won't  do  to  limit  our  caring  to  this  world,  which  so 
soon  passes  away.  No  ;  friendship  only  begins  here." 

This  roused  the  spirit  of  contradiction  in  Teles- 
phor. 

"  I  have  asked  a  priest  from  Freiburg  to  come  over 
for  All  Souls'  Day,"  she  went  on.  "  He  will  say  Mass 
for  our  dear  dead,  and  your  mother  will  of  course  be 
included." 

"  The  Pfarrer  at  Vevay  will  say  Mass  for  all  the 
dead.  What  do  you  want  with  another  ? "  asked 
Telesphor  sharply. 

"  You  can't  have  too  many  for  the  holy  souls. 
Just  think  what  the  precious  blood  is  to  them, 

Telesphor." 

192 


ALL  SOULS'  DAY.  193 

"  But  do  you  really  believe  all  that  ? " 

"  Most  certainly  I  do,  thank  God." 

"  And  what  do  you  believe  then  ?  "  asked  Lauingen, 
addressing  Telesphor. 

"  /?  "  he  answered  sadly,  as  much  as  to  say  there 
was  no  more  question  of  his  belief  in  anything. 

"  Yes,  you"  said  Lauingen. 

"  I  not  only  believe,  but  I  know,  that  we  shall  fall 
into  dust." 

"  Yes,  the  body  will  ;  but  what  of  the  soul,  the 
spirit  which  thinks  and  acts  and  loves  in  us,  and  is 
the  life  of  our  body?  " 

"  What  you  call  spirit,  Herr  Graf,  is  merely  life, 
namely,  that  which  causes  the  bodily  organs  to  work. 
When  they  are  worn  out,  life  ceases.'* 

"  That  is  revolting,  and  against  both  instinct  and 
Teason." 

"  So  are  many  things  that  are  true." 

"  No,  not  in  the  same  way.  We  don't  like  pain 
or  restraint,  but  reason  shows  us  their  use.  They 
would  have  none  if  the  soul  were  not  immortal." 

"  These  are  all  prejudices  of  Christianity,  Herr 
Graf." 

"  But  you  are  destroying  life  itself." 

"  No,  I  am  not.  Each  man  has  his  own  particular 
physical  organization,  and  should  live  according- 

iy." 

"  And  do  you  believe  that  ?  "  asked  Florestine. 

"  It  seems  to  me  the  most  probable  thing.  I  can't 
answer  with  your  geometrical  precision,  as  I  can't 
claim  it  for  my  view." 

"  Two  years  ago  at  Zurich  you  were  full  of  renov- 
13 


194  ALL  SOULS9  DAY. 

ating  the  world.  How  have  you  realized  your  pro* 
gramme?" 

"  Well,  not  at  all ;  but  then  I  have  gained  exper- 
ience. I  have  found  too  much  humbug  in  party 
spirit  to  adopt  it." 

"  Thank  God  !  "  exclaimed  Florestine. 

"  Why  ?  Because  I  have  no  sympathy  left  for 
anything  ?  "  he  asked  bitterly. 

"  No,  but  if  you  see  shallowness,  you  may  also  see 
something  better." 

"  I  doubt  it.  My  mind  has  no  receptive  power." 
He  interrupted  the  conversation  to  ask  Florestine 
whether  she  was  continuing  the  grape  cure  with 
good  results. 

"  When  I  keep  quiet  my  chest  keeps  quiet  too," 
she  answered  laughing.  "  I  don't  know  whether  I 
am  to  attribute  it  to  the  grapes  or  not.  I  have  given 
them  up  now,  because  going  out  in  the  morning  early 
is  very  difficult  these  misty  mornings." 

"  Still  you  go  to  Mass  at  Vevay  every  uay." 

«  Yes  ;  that's  different." 

"  Why  is  it  different  ?  You  have  to  go  through 
the  mist." 

"  Going  to  Mass  is  part  of  my  life,"  she  said,  with 
quiet  earnestness. 

Telesphor  had  quite  given  up  going  to  church,  and 
he  did  not  make  an  exception  on  either  All  Saints'  or 
All  Souls'  Day. 

After  much  fog  and  storm.  All  Souls  proved  de- 
lightfully warm,  and  when  breakfast  was  over, 
Oswald  again  proposed  a  little  sail  on  the  Lake. 
Florestine  agreed  willingly,  and  he  hurried  down  to 


ALL  SOULS'  DAY.  195 

the  water  to  order  the  boat  and  apprise  Telesphor  of 
their  intention.  Florestine  and  Frau  von  Strahl 
followed  slowly,  and  when  they  reached  the  shore 
everything  was  in  readiness. 

"Good-by,  dear  children,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl 
all  at  once,  instead  of  seating  herself  in  the  boat. 
"  I  could  not  trust  myself  on  these  broad  deep  waters 
in  your  nut-shell  of  a  boat.  I  shall  stay  at  home.*' 

"  O  auntie  !  there's  Chillon,  and  St.  Gingolph  up 
there.  We  are  not  going  a  voyage  of  discovery  on 
these  broad  deep  waters,"  laughed  Florestine. 

"With  this  mild,  favorable  wind  we  shall  be  at 
St.  Gingolph  in  an  hour,  and  if  the  wind  falls,  we 
shall  row  and  be  there  in  two,"  answered  Oswald. 
"  Do  come  with  us,  Aunt  Augusta.  If  you  don't 
want  to  follow  the  example  of  Rousseau  and  Lord 
Byron,  do  as  St.  Francis  of  Sales  did.  I  have  no 
doubt  he  was  on  the  Lake." 

"  Well,  I  am  not  tempted  to  follow  him  in  this 
respect,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl  in  a  tone  which  settled 
the  question. 

Florestine  sat  with  Telesphor  on  the  seat  facing 
the  steersman,  whilst  Oswald  attended  to  the  sails 
with  the  man  they  had  brought.  Frau  von  Strahl 
looked  after  them  gliding  over  the  slightly  swelling 
waves,  and  then  went  back  to  the  Villa  Paisible. 
Oswald  was  more  than  usually  cheerful,  much  to 
Florestine's  delight.  Her  mental  gaze  looked  beyond 
the  Meillerie  rocks  to  Cronenstein,  and  she  saw  a 
future  which  would  make  up  for  the  past.  Her  eyes 
shone  and  her  face  was  bright,  as  with  the  light  of 
a  new  day. 


196  ALL  SOULS' DAY. 

Telesphor  sat  at  her  side,  silent  and  gloomy: 
"  How  pretty  she  is  !  "  he  thought  to  himself,  *'  and 
how  she  loves  him — a  husband  who  has  brought  so 
much  misery  upon  her !  What  odd  people  women 
are  !  Why  am  I  not  blessed  with  the  same  kind  of 
love  ?  I  should  have  valued  it.  Why  am  I  out  in 
the  wilderness  of  despair  ?  " 

Florestine  suddenly  turned  to  him  and  said: 
"  Don't  you  think  it  wonderfully  beautiful  in  the 
Divina  Commedia  that  it  should  be  Beatrice  who 
leads  Dante  to  heaven?  Love  is  stronger  than 
mind." 

His  thoughts  and  Florestine's  had  crossed.  He 
controlled  his  surprise  and  answered  coldly : 

"  Yes,  no  one  will  deny  that." 

"  Still  I  am  glad  that  Dante  brings  out  the  fact  as 
he  does.  What  must  Beatrice  have  been  to  him  to 
make  him  see  it  in  this  light  ?  " 

"  It  may  have  been  purely  imaginary  from  first  to 
last,"  answered  Telesphor  in  the  same  distant  tone. 

"  If  I  were  a  Dante  the  world  would  soon  hear  of 
another  Beatrice  who  is  by  no  means  imaginary," 
said  Oswald  laughing. 

"  If  I  were  a  Dante  I  would  bring  out  a  thought 
which  is  more  striking  than  his  wanderings  in  hell 
and  heaven,"  said  Telesphor. 

«« What  is  it  ?  "  they  asked. 

"  A  single  line :  '  Nessun  maggior  dolore  che  ricor* 
darsi  del  tempo  felice  nella  miseria.' " 

"  Only  too  true  if  we  bring  our  misery  upon  our- 
selves," said  Oswald  gravely. 

"  But  there  is  comfort  even  for  tjhat  misery,"  said 


ALL  SOULS'  DAT.  197 

Florestine,  wishing  to  keep  off  all  harrowing 
thoughts. 

Some  strong  gusts  of  wind  swept  across  from  the 
Meillerie  rocks,  and  at  the  same  time  the  steersman 
warned  them  that  the  wind  was  rising. 

"  Let  us  put  back  to  shore,"  said  Florestine.  "  We 
shall  hardly  be  able  to  land  on  the  Savoy  side." 

"  What  do  you  think  ?  "  asked  Oswald  of  the  man. 
"  Shall  we  land  or  put  back  ?  " 

"  Reef  the  sails,"  shouted  the  steersman.  They  had 
scarcely  done  so  when  a  blast  of  wind  blew  them, 
into  the  water  and  the  boat  heaved  on  her  side. 
Then  another  gust  tore  the  sails  from  the  cable.  They 
fell  heavily  on  Oswald's  head.  He  reeled  backwards, 
and  overboard  into  the  water.  Without  a  moment's 
hesitation,  Telesphor  threw  off  his  coat  and  plunged 
into  the  water  to  the  rescue,  but  Oswald,  stunned 
by  the  blow,  uttered  no  cry  and  disappeared  in  the 
waves.  How  was  he  to  be  found  ?  The  wind  was 
blowing  up  for  a  storm.  The  steersman  dared  not 
leave  his  post;  the  man  threw  out  ropes  into  the 
water,  and  both  men  shouted  at  the  top  of  their 
voices.  Florestine  sat  there  as  if  turned  to  stone, 
her  eyes  fixed  on  the  spot  where  Oswald  had  sunk. 
When,  at  last,  Telesphor  was  seen  fighting  his  way 
alone  back  to  the  boat,  she  understood  that  Oswald 
would  never  return,  and  with  a  heart-rending  ciy  of 
anguish,  she  fell  into  a  dead  faint. 

Fishermen  from  St.  Gingolph  now  came  out  to  the 
rescue.  Florestine  and  Telesphor  were  safely  rowed 
ashore,  whilst  every  endeavor  was  made  to  recover 
Oswald.  All  the  population  of  St.  Gingolph,  con- 


198  ALL  SOULS'  DAY. 

sisting  chiefly  of  fishermen,  were  gathered  together 
on  the  shore,  and  saw  the  death-like  Florestine  car- 
ried out  of  the  boat. 

"  She's  dead — her  ladyship  is  dead,"  cried  a 
young  girl  all  at  once  out  of  the  crowd,  bursting 
into  tears,  and  pressing  forward  to  gaze  upon  the 
unconscious  form. 

"  No,  no,  Jeanneton ;  the  Countess  is  only  in  a 
faint,"  said  Telesphor,  looking  himself  so  ghastly 
that  his  words  did  not  inspire  confidence. 

"  Oh,  she  is  dead  !  "  exclaimed  Jeanneton,  wring- 
ing her  hands. 

"No,  indeed,  she  is  not.  The  poor  Count  was 
drowned  before  our  eyes.  What  we  have  to  do  now 
is  to  see  that  the  Countess  is  comfortably  and  safely 
housed  somewhere,  Jeanneton." 

"  Oh,  sir,  comfortably !  It's  not  possible,  for 
there's  only  a  poor  little  village  inn  here.  She  will 
be  quite  safe,  as  mother  and  I  will  stay  with  her. 
This  is  my  home,  sir,  and  I'm  staying  with  my  father 
and  mother  for  the  feasts.  Indeed  I  shan't  forget 
this  All  Souls'  Day." 

Florestine  was  conveyed  to  the  village  inn,  and 
Telesphor's  orders  were  carried  out  by  Jeanneton 
and  several  other  women.  In  half  an  hour's  time, 
she  heaved  a  deep  sigh,  and  opened  her  eyes.  She 
was  delirious,  noticing  nothing,  and  not  recognizing 
Telesphor.  He  telegraphed  to  Frau  von  Strahl,  ap- 
prising her  of  the  accident,  and  asking  her  to  come. 
Jeanneton  brought  the  Pfarrer  of  St.  Gingolph  to 
Florestine's  bedside,  but  he  failed  to  rouse  her.  Tel- 
esphor, intensely  agitated,  went  backwards  and  for- 


ALL  SOULS'  DAT.  199 

wards  between  the  inn  and  the  Lake.  Frau  von 
Strahl  arrived  by  the  first  available  train,  accom- 
panied by  Florestine's  maid.  As  she  saw  Teles- 
phor's  haggard  face,  the  inquiry  trembled  on  her 
lips  :  "  Tell  me — is  Florestine  dead  ?  If  she  is  alive, 
I  can  bear  anything." 

"  She  is  living,"  he  replied  significantly. 

"  O  thank  God ! "  exclaimed  Frau  von  Strahl, 
"  but  what  of  him  ?  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  .  . . 
he—" 

A  man  came  up  to  Telesphor.  "  They've  found 
the  poor  gentleman  at  last,"  he  said ;  "  dead,  of 
course.  There  they  are,  bringing  him." 

"  Who,  who  ?  "  stammered  Frau  von  Strahl. 

"  The  Count,"  answered  Telesphor.  "  Won't  you. 
come  to  the  Countess  ?  " 

Florestine  neither  noticed  nor  answered  her  aunt's 
loving  words,  and  Jeanneton,  who  was  kneeling  by 
the  bed,  whispered  brokenly  :  "  Ah,  poor  lady,  her 
heart  is  with  the  dead." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FAREWELL. 

THREE  months  had  passed  over  the  Villa  Paisible, 
and  though  they  had  brought  to  it  Florestine's  uncle 
Frankenhausen,  his  eldest  son,  and  Amelia  Verden, 
she  knew  nothing  of  their  presence.  She  was  begin- 
ning to  recover  from  a  severe  nervous  illness.  It 
-was  early  in  February.  Telesphor  brought  her  some 
violets  one  morning,  and  their  sweet  fragrance 
seemed  to  call  forth  some  secret  memory.  She  shed 
tears  for  the  first  time.  Frau  von  Strahl  and  Amelia 
rose  hastily  from  their  work,  and  hurried  up  to  her 
with  the  question  : 

"  Do  you  know  me,  Flore  ?  " 

"And  me?" 

"  I  should  think  so,"  she  answered.  *4 1  am  most 
grateful  to  you  for  all  your  goodness,  but  still  more 
grateful  to  him,"  looking  at  Telesphor,  "  for  he  risked 
his  life  for  Oswald." 

"  Did  you  indeed  ?  "  queried  Amelia  feelingly. 

"  I  could  not  do  less,  Frau  Grafin,"  he  answered 
coldly. 

This  circumstance  had  not  been  known.  It 
was  the  last  thing  Florestine  remembered.  By 
degrees  her  mind  regained  its  tone,  but  the  body  did 
not  keep  pace  with  it.  She  coughed  a  great  deal  and 
had  a  difficulty  in  breathing. 

200 


FA33WELL.  201 

Amelia,  with  her  natural  inquisitiveness,  had  dis- 
covered that  Telesphor  was  very  badly  off ;  and  she 
proposed  that  he  should  take  her  place  at  the  Villa 
Paisible,  which  he  did.  As  soon  as  Florestine 
noticed  her  surroundings,  she  was  struck  by  the 
extraordinary  change  in  Telesphor.  His  bitterness, 
spirit  of  contradiction  and  hardness  had  vanished. 
He  was  more  what  he  had  been  in  the  Cronenstein 
days.  Franz  wrote  that  he  was  coming  to  Vevay  in 
May  to  spend  several  months  with  his  mother. 
Florestine  shared  her  delight  and  expressed  it  so 
warmly  that  Telesphor  felt  a  little  cool. 

"  Don't  over-excite  yourself,"  he  said.  "  I  fear 
this  visit  for  your  shattered  strength,  Countess." 

"  Perhaps.  I  have  not  seen  Franz  for  five  years. 
We  cannot  escape  our  pleasures  and  pains,  whether 
they  are  good  for  the  body  or  not." 

"  But  you  will  try  to  avoid  the  pains,  won't 
yeu?" 

"  Yes,  just  for  the  present.  Afterwards  I  shall  say 
good-by  to  doctors  and  medicine,"  she  said  in  her 
kindest  manner,  for  as  she  spoke  she  saw  the  light 
fade  from  his  eyes. 

Telesphor  was  vexed  by  the  prospect  of  having 
Franz  in  the  house,  fearing  in  reality  that  he  would 
have  less  control  over  Florestine.  She  guessed  his 
suffering  and  avoided  talking  about  Franz  with  her 
aunt  in  Telesphor's  presence.  In  the  mean  time  she 
had  long  conversations  with  Otto  von  Frankenhausen, 
her  heir-at-law.  She  said  to  him  one  day,  "  You  will 
understand  that  Oswald's  debts  are  my  first  care. 
After  the  settlement  with  the  creditors  Cronenstein 


202  FAREWELL. 

was  mortgaged  for  five  years.  Who  knows  whether 
I  shall  be  alive  in  five  years,  and  before  my  death  I 
should  like  to  put  things  in  order." 

"  But,  Flore  dear,  why  should  you  want  to  accom- 
modate your  creditors  before  the  time  ?  Large  sums 
would  have  to  be  raised,  you  would  have  still  further 
to  retrench,  and  your  possession  of  Cronenstein  would 
be  delayed  for  years." 

"  How  would  it  be  to  sell  Cronenstein  ?  " 

"  No,  Flore,  I  could  not  agree  to  that." 

"  Then  listen.  You  will  have  Cronenstein  at  my 
death.  Might  I  not  sell  it  to  you  now,  and  so  clear 
off  all  Oswald's  debts  in  a  year's  time  ?  You  would 
give  me  the  annuity  I  am  now  receiving  and  perhaps 
a  further  sum  of  10,000  florins  which  I  require." 

"  If  I  agree  to  your  proposition,  of  course  the  an- 
nuity must  be  greatly  increased,  and  I  must  consider 
myself  only  your  steward  as  long  as  you  live.  But 
I  must  tell  you  frankly  that  I  cannot  possibly 
increase  the  annuity  for  the  next  few  years,  on 
account  of  pressing  creditors." 

"  For  the  present,  then,  let  things  remain  as  they 
are ;  I  shall  be  rich  again  in  my  old  age." 

"  Then,  Flore,  I  must  do  nothing  without  consult- 
ing my  father." 

"  I  am  almost  sorry  for  that,"  she  said,  "  as  I  so 
particularly  want  10,000  florins  at  once  on  my  own 
account." 

'*  My  dear  Flore,  let  me  beg  you  to  have  nothing  to 
do  with  Oswald's  creditors." 

"  This  is  my  own  debt  of  honor,  and  has  nothing 
to  do  with  Oswald." 


FAREWELL.  203 

"  Then  of  course  you  shall  have  the  money." 

"  Oh,  that  is  good  of  you,  Otto." 

And  it  was  settled  that  the  sum  should  be  placed 
to  her  account  at  a  Geneva  bank. 

Otto  left  without  making  up  his  mind  about  the 
sale  of  Cronenstein.  But  when  he  told  his  father 
how  much  Florestine  wished  it,  and  how  very  ill 
she  looked,  old  Frankenhausen  was  quite  in  favor 
of  it 

Telesphor  could  not  help  betraying  his  feelings. 
A  volume  of  Petrarch's  sonnets  was  used  exclusively 
by  Florestine  and  himself,  as  Frau  von  Strahl  did 
not  understand  Italian.  One  day  Florestine  took  it 
up  by  accident,  and  came  upon  the  words  :  "  Conosco 
to  un  amore  che  molto  brama  ma  poco  spera  e  nulla 
chiede>"  which  were  slightly  underlined  in  red  pencil. 
She  rubbed  out  the  marks  with  nervous  haste,  feel- 
ing sure  that  he  would  know  what  she  meant  to 
convey.  When  Telesphor  came  into  the  drawing- 
room,  she  was  sitting  at  her  frame  with  Frau  von 
Strahl.  They  were  both  working  industriously,  and 
saying  that  possibly  Franz  might  arrive  that  day,  as 
it  was  the  beginning  of  May.  Telesphor  took  no 
part  in  the  conversation. 

"  That  everlasting  Franz,"  he  thought  to  him- 
self, as  he  sat  down  at  the  table.  Then  his  hand 
was  put  out  nervously  for  the  son  nets,  and  he  noticed 
Florestine's  amendment.  It  was  enough  for  him. 
Frau  von  Strahl,  who  happened  to  raise  her  eyes  from 
her  work  at  that  moment,  was  struck  by  his  pallor. 

"  I  am  not  well,"  he  exclaimed,  and  he  left  the 
room,  and  soon  afterwards  the  house. 


204  FAREWELL. 

"  Just  look  at  him,"  said  Frau  von  Strahl.  "  He  is 
absolutely  running  out  of  the  house,  and  yet  he  said 
he  was  not  well." 

"  He  is  ill  in  mind,  Aunt  Augusta." 

"Yes,  he  has  been  so  for  some  time  past.  He 
managed  better  when  you  were  ill.  Your  illness 
took  his  mind  from  his  own  troubles,  and  now  they 
are  upon  him  again." 

"  I  think  he  ought  to  get  back  to  his  profession. 
How  could  we  contrive  it  for  him  without  letting 
him  imagine  that  we  are  tired  of  him  ?  " 

"He  would  contrive  it  for  himself  if  he  were 
sensible,  for  what  is  he  to  live  upon  ?  "  answered  her 
aunt.  "  I  heard  lately  from  Dr.  Hellmut  that  Teles- 
phor  has  all  but  spent  his  portion.  He  must  be 
living  on  his  small  capital.  His  family  are  most 
anxious  about  him,  though  they  know  that  he  is  out 
of  harm's  way  with  us." 

"  I  must  have   a  talk  with  him,  Aunt  Augusta." 

"  Yes,  Flore,  and  have  it  at  once." 

That  evening  Frau  von  Strahl  went  to  the  town 
for  the  May  devotions,  leaving  Florestine  alone  in 
the  drawing-room,  very  anxious  for  her  interview 
with  Telesphor.  He  came  back  in  a  state  of  great 
agitation.  From  the  garden  he  could  see  into  the 
drawing-room,  where  she  sat  in  widow's  mourning, 
solitary,  calm,  and  contented.  She  was  deeply  en- 
grossed in  her  book,  and  yet  rose,  as  soon  as  she 
heard  his  step. 

"  Oh,  here  you  are ! "  she  exclaimed  heartily. 
"  Do  come  in.  I  have  something  to  say  to  you." 
He  obeyed  as  if  reluctantly. 


FAREWELL.  205 

"I  must  tell  you  some  good  news.  Dr.  Croisy  has 
been  here,  and  he  allows  me  to  give  up  the  cure. 
In  July,  therefore,  I  shall  leave  the  Villa  Paisible, 
and  go  to  Gais  in  the  Appenzell  Canton,  to  get  the 
mountain  air  and  to  drink  whey.  Then  I  may 
winter  at  Gries  or  Meran,  where  I  can  eat  grapes  as 
well  as  here,  and  I  shall  be  more  at  home  as  a  German 
and  a  Catholic.  In  a  little  more  than  a  year's  time 
I  hope  things  will  be  getting  into  shape,  and  that  I 
may  be  able  to  take  up  my  abode  permanently  at 
Cronenstein.  So  much  for  myself.  Now  what  about 

you?" 

**  What  about  me  ?  "  he  repeated. 

"  Yes.  Haven't  you,  too,  a  life  to  live  ?  It  inter- 
ests me  as  much  as  my  own." 

He  looked  at  her  eagerly. 

"  It  cannot  be  otherwise.  My  father  was  fond  of 
you,  and  you  risked  your  life  for  Oswald." 

"  And  what  else  ?  "  he  asked  coldly. 

"  I  should  like  to  be  of  real  use  to  you,  and  so  you 
must  not  be  vexed  with  me  for  speaking  to  you  as  a 
friend.  You  must  alter  your  mode  of  life,  Teles- 
phor.  You  must  break  with  the  past,  and  take  up 
your  life  from  the  time  when  you  left  your  father's 
house." 

"  What's  the  good  of  it  all  ?  " 

"  Doing  your  work  in  life,  and  so  reaching  happi- 
ness." 

u  Happiness ! "  he  exclaimed  bitterly.  "  Why  talk 
to  me  about  happiness !  Abstract  faith,  hope,  and 
charity  will  never  make  it  for  me." 

"  I  am  talking  about  your  work  in  life,  and  pro- 


206  FAREWELL. 

posing  that  first  of  all  you  should  get  a  firm  footing 

in  your  profession.     Now  that  we  are  parting 

"  Parting ! "  he  exclaimed  in  a  tone  of  consterna- 
tion. "  No,  no,  don't  send  me  away.  Let  me  take 
you  to  Gais  and  see  how  the  mountain  air  suits 

you." 

"  I  am  very  grateful  to  you,  Telesphor.  But  now 
that  Dr.  Croisy  has  released  me  from  the  cure,  I  have 
no  further  need  of  a  doctor.  You  have  devoted 
yourself  so  entirely  to  me  for  the  last  six  months 
that  I  cannot  thank  you  sufficiently  for  all  your 
sacrifices,  and  would  not  for  the  world  have  you 
continue  them.  You  must  stay  with  me  for  the 
present  to  see  Franz,  and  go  later  on  to  Vienna  and 
Paris ;  and  then  I  hope  you  will  allow  your  old 
Cronenstein  friend  to  open  an  account  for  you — just 
to  help  you  with  your  work  ?  " 

"Are  you  sending  me  away  and — paying  me?" 
exclaimed  Telesphor  with  quivering  lip.  "  Am  I  to 
make  room  for  Franz  ?  " 

"  On  the  contrary  I  ask  you  to  stay  because  Franz 
is  coming.  As  to  pay,  well  I  am  trying  to  give  you 
what  you  gave  me, — a  life  for  a  life." 

"  All  that  is  beside  the  mark,"  he  said  passion- 
ately. "  You  know  what  I  want." 

u  I  offer  you  what  I  have  got,"  she  said  in  the 
same  kind  tone. 

"  Thank  you.  I  cannot  accept  it,"  he  answered 
irritably.  "  I  wonder,  indeed,  that  a  woman  of  your 
mind  can  make  me  the  offer,  when  she  knows  per- 
fectly well  how  things  stand  with  me.  Farewell," 
he  said,  getting  up. 


FAREWELL.  20? 

"  No,  I  can't  let  you  go  as  you  are,"  exclaimed 
Florestine,  getting  up  too.  "  Wait  and  see  Franz." 

"  He  can  do  me  no  good,  and  a  stranger  in  youi 
house  is  only  in  the  way." 

"  I  have  not  treated  you  as  a  stranger." 

"  Farewell,"  he  repeated. 

"  O  Telesphor ! J>  she  exclaimed  sorrowfully. 
"Remember  Cronenstein,  my  father,  and  Oswald, 
and  don't  throw  away  my  old  friendship  so  harshly." 

"  It's  no  use  reminding  me  of  the  past.  What  has 
it  to  do  with  the  present?  Farewell  once  more." 

"  O,  you  cannot  leave  me  so  !  "  she  entreated. 

"  Florestine !  "  he  said  softly,  but  the  passion  in 
his  tone  frightened  her.  She  drew  back,  saying, 
«*  Go  if  you  must.  I  won't  stop  you  any  more." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  NOVA  ET   VETERA." 

FKANZ  had  finished  all  his  orders  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  start  for  Vevay.  Except  the  Angel  of  the 
Resurrection,  there  was  not  a  single  marble  figure  in 
his  studio.  Only  the  plaster  models  remained. 

"  Good-morning,  Herr  von  Strahl !  "  suddenly 
said  a  familiar  voice. 

"  Good  heavens,  Sir  Robert ! "  exclaimed  Franz, 
"  what  brings  you  to  Rome  ?  " 

"  You  may  well  ask.  I  should  never  have  dreamt 
of  it.  I  have  had  to  leave  London  in  the  season  and 
come  here  to  have  the  Holy  Father's  opinion." 

"  Do  you  want  to  become  a  Papal  Zouave  ?  " 

"  Now,  Herr  von  Strahl,  you  know  I  am  an  old 
fellow.  No,  the  matter  concerns  Rosabel." 

*'  Miss  Rosabel  ?  How  is  she  ?  "  asked  Franz,  full 
of  interest. 

"  Wait  a  bit.  Have  you  time  to  listen  to  my 
story?  My  Rosabel  is  the  fairest  rose  in  all  Eng- 
land, and  as  good  as  she  is  fair.  She  has  only  one 
fault,  she's  obstinate,  and  she  has  set  her  obstinate 
will  on  going  into  a  convent." 

"  These  things  will  happen  sometimes,  Sir  Rob- 
ert," laughed  Franz. 

"  But  I  don't  approve  of  their  happening  to  me. 
208 


'•'  yOVA  ET  VETERAN  209 

At  first  I  thought  it  a  pretext  for  not  marrying  Lord 
Glenarvon,  and  I  told  her  there  was  no  necessity  for 
her  to  take  refuge  in  a  convent.  To  that  she  calmly 
replied :  *  I  don't  want  to  take  refuge  in  a  convent, 
papa  dear.  I  want  to  go  of  my  own  free  will  and 
give  myself  to  God.'  I  need  not  tell  you  what  I 
felt.  I  merely  replied  very  quietly :  *  That's  non- 
sense, Rosabel.'  In  the  midst  of  my  misery  I  couldn't 
help  thinking  how  wise  you  had  been  in  keeping 
your  own  intention  to  yourself.  I  should  have  been 
eure  to  say  now,  'Aha!  she's  becoming  a  nun  be- 
cause he's  becoming  a  priest,'  and  it  might  have 
given  me  a  feeling  against  you,  Herr  von  Strahl." 

"  Her  resolution  comes  from  God,  not  from  me, 
Bir  Robert.  But  I  am  glad  that  you  kept  your 
word." 

"  The  long  and  the  short  of  it  is  that  Rosabel  has 
persisted  in  refusing  all  offers — lately  she  refused 
a  duke's  son — and  she's  only  twenty  now.  I  liked 
the  young  fellow  so  much  that  I  talked  to  her  seri- 
ously. It  was  all  in  vain.  Then  I  proposed  that 
she  should  come  with  me  to  Rome  and  have  her 
vocation  examined  by  the  Holy  Father,  and  that  I 
would  abide  by  his  decision.  She  refused,  but  said 
I  might  lay  the  whole  matter  before  the  Holy 
Father,  and  that's  why  I'm  here.  It  will  be  given 
for  Rosabel,  I  suspect,  because  I  must  stick  to  the 
truth  and  say  to  the  Holy  Father :  '  She  is  lovely, 
an  angel,  an  only  daughter,  a  rich  heiress,  wor- 
shipped by  her  father  and  mother,  besieged  by  suit- 
ors, and  she  turns  her  back  upon  it  all  and  wants 
to  go  into  a  convent.'  Can  he  say  anything  but, 
14 


210  "NOVA  ET  VETERA." 

«  Well,  let  her  go '  ?  Livia  Granford  has  also  gone 
into  a  convent,  but  her  mother  has  still  two  daugh- 
ters." 

"  Where  has  Livia  Granford  gone  ?  "  asked  Franz, 
with  interest. 

**  To  the  Good  Shepherd  Convent  at  Hammer- 
smith, and  that's  where  Rosabel  wants  to  go,  to  serve 
God,  as  she  says,  in  those  poor  fallen  ones." 

"  Deo  servire  regnare  est,"  answered  Franz,  deeply 
moved.  "  Livia  Granford  and  Rosabel  Balmond  are 
chosen  souls,  Sir  Robert." 

They  parted  a  few  days  later,  never  to  meet  again. 

When  Franz  reached  the  Villa  Paisible,  poor,  rest- 
less Telesphor  was  no  longer  there.  On  the  morn- 
ing after  their  talk,  Florestine  rang  as  usual  for  her 
maid,  and  discovered  that  Dr.  Herzog  had  left  the 
house.  Frau  von  Strahl  was  inclined  to  blame 
Florestine  for  letting  him  go. 

"  What  harm  did  his  affection  do  you  ? "  she 
asked.  "  It  made  him  happy.  You  might  have  won 
him  back  to  God." 

"  These  are  mere  suppositions,  Aunt  Augusta.  It 
did  not  make  him  happy,  and  if  I  had  encouraged 
him  I  should  probably  have  drawn  him  rather  to 
myself  than  to  God." 

Florestine  showed  more  wisdom  than  her  aunt. 
Franz  went  to  Geneva  to  institute  inquiries  about 
Telesphor,  and  they  found  he  had  taken  his  passport 
to  Turin. 

"  Could  he  mean  to  join  Garibaldi  ? "  exclaimed 
Frau  von  Strahl. 

"  He  is  hardly  strong  enough,"  said  Florestine. 


"NOVA  ET  VET  ERA."  211 

"  Mightn't  he  go  for  this  very  reason,  out  of  sheer 
desperation  ?  " 

"  O  Aunt  Augusta,  how  wretched  you  make 
me ! "  said  poor  Florestine. 

"  We  mustn't  jump  so  hastily  at  the  very  worst 
conclusions,"  said  Franz. 

Franz  thought  of  going  home  to  Germany,  and  of 
taking  his  Angel  of  the  Resurrection  to  Cronenstein. 
Florestine  pressed  Frau  von  Strahl  to  accompany 
him,  though  she  shivered  at  the  bare  suggestion  of 
seeing  Cronenstein  herself.  "  It  is  overwhelming  to 
think  what  I  should  find  there  now,"  she  said;  "  only 
a  vault,  and  it  does  not  even  belong  to  me  at  this 
moment.  I  shall  recover  myself  and  get  used  to  it 
all — perhaps  some  day  or  other  I  shall  live  there 
quite  happily." 

In  June  they  left  Villa  Paisible  for  the  Vierwald- 
statter  Lake.  From  thence  Franz  accompanied  his 
mother  to  Germany,  and  Florestine  established  her- 
self at  a  pension.  For  the  first  time  in  her  life  she 
was  quite  alone  amongst  perfect  strangers. 

Telesphor  was  in  Vienna,  on  the  staff  of  a  paper 
notorious  for  its  hatred  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He 
wrote  his  articles  at  night  over  the  champagne  bottle. 
They  were  in  keeping  with  the  paper,  insolent  and 
coarse,  depreciating  the  Church,  and  everything  and 
anything  connected  with  it,  and  thoroughly  enjoyed 
by  the  scum  of  journal-readers.  He  was  well  paid,  so 
he  could  afford  to  keep  himself  in  champagne.  This 
was  Telesphor's  life  in  Vienna.  His  relations  at  X. 
completely  lost  sight  of  him.  He  had  claimed  his 
share  at  his  mother's  death,  and  broken  off  all  cor- 


212  -  NOVA  ET  VETERAN 

respondence  with  Rabener.      The  sisters  were  dis 
cussing  him  one  day,  according  to  their  habit. 

"  He  is  wandering  about  in  the  world  without  any 
religion,"  sighed  Afra. 

"  With  nothing  to  do  and  nothing  to  live  for,  he's 
bound  to  come  to  grief,"  said  Apollonia. 

"First  of  all,  he'll  starve,"  exclaimed  Agatha. 
"  He  ran  through  what  father  left  him  during  his 
student  days,  and  his  vagabond  life  will  soon  do  for 
poor  mother's  few  gulden." 

"  The  Countess  is  able  to  provide  for  him,"  re- 
marked Frances  ;  "  it's  the  least  she  can  do  after  his 
devotedness  to  her." 

"  She  is  sure  to  do  what  is  proper,"  said  Apollonia, 
*'  but  she  cannot  be  called  upon  to  provide  for  Teles 
for  life." 

"  And  she  could  not  do  it,  poor  thing,  as  she  has 
to  get  on  for  many  a  year  with  a  very  small  income," 
added  Agatha. 

"  What  cattle  men  are ! "  exclaimed  Frances. 
"  For  twenty  years  all  X.  looked  up  to  this  Teles  as 
a  prodigy  of  cleverness  and  goodness.  Then  there's 
this  Count  Lauingen,  a  spendthrift,  a  gambler,  who 
beggars  his  wife,  and  brings  her  to  death's  door,  and 
is  still  considered  a  pattern.  What  must  the  others 
be  who  are  not  patterns  and  mirrors  of  virtue  ?  " 

"  These  are  indeed  two  sad  cases,  but  there  are 
good  men  in  the  world  for  all  that,"  said  gentle 
Apollonia. 

"  For  instance  the  Frau  Majorin's  son,"  supple- 
mented Agatha.  "  They  say  he  wants  to  be  a 
priest." 


"NOVA  ET  VETERA."  213 

"That  interesting  Heir  von  Strahl  a  priest! 
Well,  that  beats  everything,"  said  Frances.  "  Who 
would  have  guessed  it  from  his  dreamy,  beautiful 
eyes !  But  that's  what  it  is.  The  male  sex  is 
divided  into  two  classes,  monsters  and  blockheads." 

The  sisters  were  accustomed  to  her  way  and  let 
her  talk  on,  partly  because  they  viewed  her  as  in- 
corrigible, partly  because  they  were  sorry  for  her.  It 
was  no  secret  at  X.  that  Frances'  married  life  was 
not  happy.  She  grew  more  and  more  embittered. 

u  Is  it  really  true  that  Rabener  is  going  to  escort 
the  Mayoress  to  America  ?  "  asked  one  of  the  sisters. 

"  I  am  sure  I  hope  not,"  answered  Agatha.  "  Is 
not  the  scandal  of  Teles  enough  for  us  ?  " 

u  Poor  Franz !  "  sighed  Afra. 

"  She  has  made  her  own  bed  and  she  must  lie  on 
it,"  said  Agatha. 

The  Mayoress  of  X.  did  not  seem  inclined  to  let 
Agatha  have  her  wish.  At  ten  o'clock  one  summer's 
morning  she  rustled  into  her  husband's  shop,  order- 
ing him  to  her  presence-chamber.  As  usual  when 
dragged  from  his  customers  he  was  put  out,  and  said 
shortly : 

"What's  up?" 

"Nothing's  up.  I  have  something  to  ask  you, 
that's  all.  Do  you  still  refuse  to  go  to  New  York 
about  my  brother's  money  ?  " 

"  I  do,  absolutely,  Barbele.  Vincent  Guldman  is 
dead — so  are  his  wife  and  little  boy.  Your  sister  is 
dead,  and  you  are  in  possession.  The  law  out  there 
and  at  home  will  settle  the  business  nicely.  Why 
should  I  leave  my  office  and  business  in  the  lurch, 


214  "NOVA  ET  VETERA." 

and  risk  my  life  on  the  sea  ?  No,  Barbele,  I  will  not 
do  it." 

"  Then  I  will.  I  don't  mean  to  let  the  New  York 
lawyers  keep  half  the  money  in  their  clutches  as 
the)7  have  kept  it  already  for  a  year.  I  shall  bring 
them  to  order." 

"  You  have  lost  your  senses,  Barbele  !  You  can't 
speak  a  word  of  English." 

"  I  mean  to  take  Jenny  with  me." 

"Take  my  Hannchen?     Worse  and  worse." 

"  I  am  thinking  that  Jenny  will  make  a  good 
match  out  there." 

"  Stop,  Barbe — it's  really  too  bad !  Let  the  good 
match  come  to  our  Hannchen.  As  for  sending  my 
child  over  there  as  if  she  were  a  bale  of  goods  want- 
ing a  purchaser,  I  positively  will  not  do  it,  and  I 
think  your  scheme  absolutely  ridiculous,  for  you  are 
not  the  woman  for  business." 

"  Of  course  I  should  want  the  advice  of  a  sharp 
business  man,  so  I  have  invitod  the  Medizinalrath  to 
go  with  me,  and  he  has  agreed  to  my  proposition." 

"  But  I  don't  agree  ! "  thundered  the  Mayor,  with 
a  vehemence  his  wife  had  never  before  heard.  "  If 
you  go  with  him  to  America  you  may  stay  there. 
You  shall  never  enter  my  house  again.  I  won't  have 
so  great  a  scandal  at  X." 

"  I  shall  return  as  a  millionaire,"  replied  the  May- 
oress coldly,  u  buy  Cronenstein  Castle,  which  will 
soon  be  put  up  at  auction,  give  balls  and  parties,  and 
see  the  whole  town  cl  X.  coming  up  the  Castle  hill 
on  all-fours  to  get  an  invitation,  and  you  at  the  top." 

**  Gracious,  no !     I  shall  not  go  on  my  knees  to 


"NOVA  ET  VETERA."  215 

you ! "  he  exclaimed,  bringing  his  fist  down  upon 
the  table  with  a  thump  which  made  the  window- 
frames  shake. 

"  Behave  yourself,  do.  The  people  in  the  shop 
will  hear  the  ridiculous  noise  you  are  making.  The 
long  and  the  short  of  it  is,  either  you  go  to  America 
or  I." 

"  I  shall  not  go,"  he  exclaimed  angrily,  "  and  I 
forbid  you  to  go." 

She  laughed  scornfully,  and  betook  herself  in  si- 
lence to  the  house,  whilst  her  husband  shut  himself 
into  the  shop  and  strove  in  vain  to  serve  his  cus- 
tomers with  his  usual  placidity  of  temper. 

But  the  Mayoress  ruled  in  her  own  house,  and  was, 
in  prospective,  a  very  rich  woman.  Frances  Rabener 
went  one  day  to  speak  her  mind  to  her  former  friend, 
and  found  the  Mayoress  in  pleased  contemplation  of 
twelve  moire-antique  dresses,  which  were  spread  out 
on  sofa,  chairs,  and  table. 

"  O,  Franz  dear ! "  she  said  in  a  condescending 
tone,  "  so  here  you  are  at  last.  Just  look  there — how 
do  you  like  those  dresses?  They  have  just  come 
from  town,  six  for  me,  and  six  for  Jenny,  all  in 
moire-antique.  You  know  it's  the  proper  thing  for 
fine  ladies  to  wear,  and  one  must  appear  in  America 
with  a  proper  show." 

"  Is  it  part  of  the  show  that  you  should  be  escorted 
by  my  husband  ? "  asked  Frances  sharply,  making 
room  for  herself  on  the  sofa  by  pushing  the  dresses 
aside. 

"  It  would  look  veiy  strange  in  America  to  see 
two  ladies  travelling  alone,"  said  the  Mayoress,  se- 


216  «NOVA  ET  VETERA." 

cretly  angered  at  the  careless  handling  of  the  moire- 
antiques. 

"That  may  be  true  of  American  women,"  said 
Frances,  "  but  foreigners  have  no  need  to  adopt  their 
customs.  I  tell  you  frankly  I  think  your  plan  is 
outrageous,  disturbing  married  people  and  a  whole 
household  in  order  to  get  a  protector  for  yourself 
on  your  journey." 

"  With  my  weak  health  could  I  find  a  more  suit- 
able person  than  the  Medizinalrath  ?  " 

"  If  your  health  is  really  weak,  don't  venture  on 
the  journey." 

"  And  leave  my  property  to  be  squandered,  you 
mean  ?  No,  I'm  not  so  unnatural  a  mother.  I  mean 
to  have  my  million's  worth,  first,  for  myself,  and  then 
for  my  seven  children." 

"  Why  don't  you  go  over  there  with  your  husband, 
or  let  him  go  alone  ?  " 

"He  alone?  What  a  wretched  figure  he  would 
cut  at  New  York !  And  he  and  I  couldn't  go  together. 
One  can't  leave  one's  home  and  seven  children  to 
their  own  devices.  And  besides  I  don't  see  why  you 
should  vent  your  discontent  on  me.  I  made  the 
proposal  to  the  Medizinalrath  and  offered  him  a 
handsome  fee.  Surely  a  thousand  pounds  are  worth 
having,  besides  a  free  passage  and  his  living  in 
America." 

"  No,  not  in  your  society ! "  burst  out  Frances. 
"  To  my  mind  the  whole  thing  is  so  low  and  under- 
bred that  your  husband  must  be  what  he  is  to  agree, 
and  mine  what  he  is  to  go." 

"  My  husband  is  Mayor  of  X.  and  I  won't  hear  a 


"  NOVA  ET  VETERA  "  217 

word  said  against  him,"  replied  the  Mayoress,  draw- 
ing herself  up.  "  You  may  have  whatever  opinion 
you  please  of  your  husband.  I  value  him  extremely, 
and  have  always  done  so.  But  if  you  came  here  to 
say  disagreeable  things  to  me,  you  force  me  to  treat 
you  as  you  deserve." 

So  saying,  she  left  Frances  to  her  own  cogitations. 
A  fortnight  later  the  Mayoress,  escorted  by  Dr.  Ra- 
bener,  set  off  with  her  eldest  daughter  for  New  York, 
via  London  arid  Paris. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

'*  MAGNIFICAT.  " 

GRIES  near  Botzen  has  much  the  same  winter  cli- 
mate as  Meran.     It  is  a  tiny  place,  and  accommoda- 
tion is  limited,  so    that  the   great  mass   of   winter 
visitors  go  to  Meran.     This  was  just  Florestine's  rea- 
son for  remaining  at  Gries,  when  in  September  she 
left  Switzerland    and  went  to  the  Austrian  Tyrol. 
Some  few  of  its  houses  have  a  lovely  view  of  the 
rich  valley  surrounded  by  mountains,  and  the  river 
Etsch  winding  its  way   to   Lombardy.      Florestine 
preferred  a  small  abode  in  the  place  itself,  close  to 
the  Benedictine  church.     She  was  alone  this  winter, 
as  Frau  von  Strahl  was  spending  it  with  a  sick  sister. 
Franz  was  able  to  pay  her  a  visit  before  his  winter 
lectures  at  Innsbruck  began.     He  found  her  cheerful 
and  uncomplaining,  but  he   could  not  get  rid  of  the 
thought   that   she   was    certainly  declining.      How 
wasted  her  hand  was  !     Then  she  was  very  pale, 
breathed  with  difficulty,  and  could  move  about  only 
slowly  and  languidly.     Franz  questioned  the  doctor, 
who  had  been    attending  her  for  a  fortnight.     He 
seemed  to  think  it  was  a  nervous  illness  affecting 
the  whole  system. 

"  A  thorough  break-up,  you  mean,  though  incip 
lent  ?  "  asked  Franz  in  alarm. 

218 


"  MA  GNIFICA  T. "  219 

"  Let  us  hope  rather  that  the  nervous  exhaustion 
may  yield  to  remedies." 

It  was  enough  for  Franz. 

"How  do  you  really  feel,  Flore  dear?"  he  asked 
her  one  day,  as  she  seemed  to  him  quite  exhausted. 

"  I  *  really  feel '  that  I  am  in  God's  hands,"  she 
answered  gently. 

"  You  are  evading  my  question." 

"  The  truth  is,  Franz,  I  have  never  quite  recovered 
the  terrible  shock  of  Oswald's  death,  and  now  I  feel 
that  I  am  losing  my  grasp  on  life.  It  is  very  grad- 
ual. I  can  do  less  and  less  every  day.  It  may  be 
a  nervous  delusion,  so  you  see  I  can  say  with  perfect 
truth  that  I  am  in  God's  hands." 

"  Do  you  pray  for  your  recovery,  Flore  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no." 

"  But  you  should.  You  must  get  well  again  to  com- 
fort us  all.  Now  you  are  making  us  sad  and  anxious." 

The  winter  was  long,  dreary,  and  severe.  Flo- 
restine  declined  day  by  day.  She  did  not  keep  her 
bed.  She  was  up  and  went  to  Mass  by  sheer  force  of 
will.  She  could  scarcely  read  or  talk;  her  maid 
wrote  her  letters  at  her  dictation  ;  even  needlework 
tried  her  too  much.  Her  doctor,  confessor,  and  some 
nursing  Sisters  were  frequent  visitors.  There  was  a 
large  hospital  at  Botzen,  which  they  served.  One 
day  towards  the  end  of  Lent,  Sister  Celestine  came 
to  Florestine,  asking  her  prayers  for  a  dying  man, 
who  declined  all  religious  help. 

"  Has  no  priest  been  to  him  yet,  Sister  ?  " 

"  He  was  brought  in  yesterday  morning.  An  Ital- 
ian gentleman  came  with  him,  but  he  was  obliged 


220  "  MA  GNIFIGA  T: 

to  go  on  to  Rovendo.  TLay  were  both  from  Vienna 
where  the  poor  gentleman  has  already  had  several  bad 
attacks,  and  has  been  altogether  reckless  about  his 
health,  so  the  other  said.  We  all  thought  he  was 
going,  so  I  ran  for  the  chaplain.  But  directly  the 
priest  began  to  talk,  the  sick  man  opened  his  eyes 
and  declared  that  he  drd  not  require  a  priest.  So  we 
put  him  down  as  a  Lutheran,  but  the  Italian  gentle- 
man assured  us  that  he  was  a  Catholic  and  a  Ger- 
man ;  that  his  name  was  Herzog,  but  that  possibly 
at  Vienna  he  might  have  grown  careless  about  his 
religion.  This  is  how  things  are  at  present,  gnadige 
Grafin.  The  Italian  gentleman  has  left,  and  the  poor 
man  is  at  death's  door." 

Sister  Celestine  hurried  away,  and  Florestine,  in  a 
state  of  mind  not  easily  described,  sent  for  the  Bene- 
dictine Father  to  whom  she  gave  her  whole  confi- 
dence. She  told  him  Telesphor'  s  history  from  first 
to  last.  "  Now,"  she  said  in  closing,  "  the  all-impor- 
tant hour  has  come.  He  is  dying  at  the  Botzen  hos- 
pital, and  has  no  notion  that  I  am  here.  I  beg  you 
to  go  to  him  at  once  and  give  him  the  sacraments, 
which  he  has  refused.  We  will  trust  in  Our  Lord  to 
help  you.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  get  Sister  Celes- 
tine to  take  you  to  the  sick  man  from  Vienna.  God 
speed  you,  Father." 

"  I  will  try  most  willingly,"  replied  Father  Burk- 
hard,  "  but  it's  a  work  of  grace  in  which  God  must 
do  everything." 

"  Yes,  I  know,  Father.  God  must  do  everything, 
and  we  must  consent  to  be  His  instruments,  now, 
before  it's  too  late." 


"  MA  ONIFICA  T."  221 

"  Shall  I  mention  your  name  in  case  I  cannot  make 
an  impression  in  any  other  way  ?  " 

"Yes,  if  it's  necessary,  but  it  might  excite  him. 
You  might  say  Beatrice.  He  will  at  once  under- 
stand." 

Father  Burkhard  went  to  the  hospital,  a  fine 
building  standing  on  a  free  and  open  situation  out- 
side the  town  of  Botzen.  He  asked  for  that  part  of 
it  which  was  served  by  Sister  Celestine,  and  begged 
her  to  go  with  him  to  the  dying  man. 

"  It  is  high  time,"  she  whispered,  "  for  the  doctor 
thinks  he  cannot  last  over  the  night." 

Father  Burkhard  quietly  opened  the  door  to  which 
she  pointed.  The  figure  on  the  bed,  buried  in  the 
shadows  of  death,  looked  lifeless,  but  when  Telesphor 
opened  his  eyes,  they  revealed  soul,  and  conscious- 
ness, and  clearness  of  mind.  Father  Burkhard  at 
once  said :  "  I  have  been  commissioned  to  come  and 
see  you.  Beatrice  has  sent  me." 

"  You  are  welcome ! "  said  Telesphor,  in  a  low 
tone,  but  with  a  peaceful  expression. 

"  You  know  why  I  have  been  sent  ?  " 

"  Yes — to  save  my  soul.  I  will  make  my  confes- 
sion." 

He  did  so  with  great  self-possession  and  presence  of 
mind,  only  interrupted  at  intervals  by  his  weakness, 
and  received  absolution  with  indescribable  joy,  then 
the  Holy  Viaticum.  He  had  the  benefit  of  all  the 
Church  can  do  for  her  departing  children,  and  then 
said :  "  Now,  Father,  thank  her.  .  .  .  tell  her  I  am 
happy,  for  I  have  made  my  peace  with  God." 

Father  Burkhard  returned  to  Florestine  at  Gries, 


222  "MAGNIFICAT." 

thanking  God.     It  was  evening,  but  she  was    still 
lying  on  the  sofa  as  he  had  left  her. 

"  The  battle  is  won,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Magnificat  anima  mea"  she  answered.  "  But 
how  did  you  induce  him  to  make  up  his  mind, 
Father?" 

"  I  did  nothing.  God  did  everything.  As  soon  as 
I  said  '  Beatrice  sends  me,'  his  mind  seemed  to  light 
up,  as  if  with  some  scene  or  memory  of  the  past." 

"  Yes,"  said  Florestine,  as  her  tears  rained  down, 
"  our  last  talk  was  of  Beatrice  before  that  dreadful 
catastrophe,  and  before  he  jumped  into  the  Lake  to 
rescue  my  husband." 

"  These  memories,  under  the  action  of  grace,  helped 
him  to  overcome  himself,"  said  the  Father.  "  He 
was  as  unresisting  as  a  child." 

"  How  his  mother  must  have  been  praying  for  him," 
exclaimed  Florestine. 

The  Father  was  silent.  He  had  his  own  thoughts 
on  the  subject. 

The  following  morning  Father  Burkhard  found 
only  Telesphor's  corpse,  and  Sister  Celestine  told  him 
with  feeling  that  towards  midnight  Telesphor  had 
expired  quietly  without  any  death-struggle. 

"  His  life  was  his  struggle,  Sister  Celestine,"  said 
the  Father. 

Florestine  wrote  to  apprise  Telesphor's  eldest  sister 
of  his  death.  The  prodigal,  she  said,  was  in  his 
Father's  house. 

She  lingered  on  for  a  few  months.  The  life  which 
had  been  so  rich  in  joy  and  promise,  in  happiness  and 
the  world's  good  things,  was  drawing  to  a  close  in 


"  MA  GNIFICA  T. "  223 

shadow,  oblivion  and  solitude.  Florestine  never  saw 
her  beloved  Cronenstein  again  for  she  had  not  strength 
for  the  journey.  She  had  told  her  relations  to  expect 
her,  and  thus  they  had  been  deceived  as  to  her  illness. 
Perhaps  death  came  upon  her  unawares.  So  it  was 
that,  of  all  her  family,  only  Franz  was  present  at 
her  peaceful  death-bed.  He  was  summoned  from 
Innsbruck  by  telegram,  when  a  sudden  attack  of 
fever  made  her  condition  serious.  In  three  days  all 
was  over.  Franz  accompanied  her  body  to  its  last 
resting-place.  She  wanted  nothing  more  of  Cronen- 
stein than  space  for  her  coffin.  From  the  winter  of 
her  life,  so  bleak  in  its  bereavements,  she  went  to 
the  spring  of  eternity,  for  she  had  been  able  to  save 
two  souls,  and  her  last  word  was  Magnificat. 


PRINTED  BY  BKNZIGER  BROTHERS,  NBW  YORK. 


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